Cricket: Cairns paid-out over match fixing claims

Having won monetary damages from the Cricinfo website, Chris Cairns will now carry on with plans to sue IPL commissioner Lalit Modi. Photo / Getty Images

Chris Cairns says he has received monetary damages from the Cricinfo website and now wants one of the cricket's most powerful figures to front up in court so he can clear his name.

The former matchwinning New Zealand allrounder is continuing with plans to sue the wealthy Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi over his comments alleging Cairns' involvement in match fixing in the 2008 Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Cairns, who completely rejects the allegations, said Cricinfo paid him unspecified damages this week, and ran an extensive interview telling his side of the story, after they quoted Modi's Twitter postings in January, which were also published by some Indian media outlets.

"We've had damages from Cricinfo and it's good to see that has occurred.", Cairns said.

"They have acknowledged the whole reporting of the Modi statement was a process they should have done better.

"It's about righting a wrong, whether it was a huge amount or a small amount I'm just happy they've acknowledged that what they did was wrong, and that's what we want to get from Modi as well."

Cairns said Modi's comments "completely destroyed me within the cricketing environment", and he had engaged a team of London-based libel lawyers to pursue Modi through the courts. It had already proved difficult to initiate.

"It's a process we have to go through and it's frustrating at the moment because we can't get any response from Modi.

"We are now filing to have him served in India. In his words, he said 'I have what I have and I'll show it in court', and we're saying 'great, let's do that'."

Modi claimed in January he would produce evidence in court to back his claims, which he said was the reason Cairns was axed from this year's IPL auction list.

No concrete evidence of match fixing in the now-defunct ICL has emerged.

Said Cairns: "There's no option for me. The wealth that (Modi) has is phenomenal, the power that he has within the game is phenomenal.

"The court system will decide how it turns out, monetary wise. It's just about being able to walk in cricket again.

"There will always be aspersions cast, you get slammed with the match fixing tag, and it's just sad."

Cairns - who plans to marry his Australian partner Melanie Croser in Sydney on Saturday - was in Hamilton today to speak at a function arranged by the Automobile Association (AA), and will continue his regular campaign for New Zealand train level crossing safety.

But he will keep his distance from his former teammates, having offered to assist young players but been rebuffed by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).

"I want to help with regards to NZC, whether it's Tim Southee, a raft of other allrounders or even a guy like Jake Oram, but reality says that I can't.

"I don't blame NZC or anyone in that situation. They need to look after their own nest. Once we go through this (legal) action and it gets sorted out then hopefully things can go back to normal.

"I'm not beating down the door and pushing my case to be involved, but if they want my help then I'm here.

"I think I do have a wealth of knowledge about the game and I'm willing to help out if asked."

- NZPA