Chris Cairns' legal troubles are not over just yet.
A UK newspaper is reporting Cairns, who was acquitted of perjury charges earlier this week, will be back in the High Court in London next year to defend a £1.5 million ($3.4 million) civil claim for fraud brought by Lalit Modi.
Moments after the not-guilty verdict late Monday night (NZT), as expected, Modi issued a statement through his solicitors saying that he was considering his options. It appears Modi is now set on pursuing Cairns through the courts, taking their legal fight into a sixth year.
The Telegraph has reported the case has been scheduled for the court's spring session which starts on March 7 and lasts until the end of May, with Brendon McCullum and Lou Vincent once again possibly testifying against Cairns.
The newspaper claims Cairns will have to appear in person to defend the case which has been lodged by Modi in the light of the new evidence that has emerged since their libel trial in 2012, in particular the witness statements of Vincent and McCullum given to the International Cricket Council alleging Cairns involvement in corruption.
Cairns was cleared this week of perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to evidence he gave in winning a seven-figure settlement from Modi, who had accused him on Twitter in January 2010 of a history of matchfixing.
Telegraph reporter Nick Hoult talks to Radio Sport's Martin Devlin about a possible new trial for Chris Cairns:
Modi's legal team were in the Southwark Crown court throughout Cairns two-month trial.
