No escape for Chris Cairns: Civil claim lined up if cricketer found not guilty of perjury

Chris Cairns denies match-fixing. Photo / Dean Purcell

Former New Zealand cricketing great Chris Cairns is likely to face a civil claim if he is acquitted of perjury.

Cairns is in the United Kingdom preparing for his trial which is slated to start at London's Southwark Crown Court on October 5.

The 45-year-old has been charged with perjury resulting from a successful defamation case against former Indian Premier League boss Lalit Modi.

When the case came before Westminster Magistrates' Court last year it was alleged that Cairns had wilfully made a statement in the legal proceedings against Modi "which you knew to be false or did not believe to be true. Namely that you never, ever cheated at cricket and nor would you contemplate doing such a thing".

Cairns has consistently denied he was involved in match-fixing.

A lawyer for Modi, Rajesh Vyakarnam, last night told the Herald: "Mr Modi issued a civil claim in fraud against Mr Cairns in November 2014, to have the 2012 libel judgment set aside. Those proceedings are currently stayed pending the conclusion of the criminal trial in October."

If Cairns is found guilty of perjury it will not be necessary for the civil claim to go to trial. If, however, he is acquitted, the civil claim will likely be prepared for trial on the grounds that the burden of proof will not be as high as that for perjury.

The jury trial for perjury is expected to last up to five weeks.

Several former and current New Zealand players are lined up to give evidence including recent Black Caps' fast-bowling coach Shane Bond. The Herald understands he will be giving evidence via video-link. Bond played in the ICL with the Delhi Giants while Cairns was captain of the Chandigarh Lions.

Others who will be called include New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and Lou Vincent. The latter has confessed to multiple counts of match-fixing across three continents and received 11 life bans from the England and Wales Cricket Board for 18 breaches of the regulations.

Four breaches related to a Twenty20 match between Lancashire and Durham in June 2008.

The remaining 14 charges related to two fixtures played at Hove in August 2011, a Sussex v Lancashire T20 match and a Sussex v Kent 40-over match.

Vincent was the first professional sportsman in New Zealand to receive a life ban from his sport.

Several other New Zealanders who were playing in the ICL are understood to have provided statements to Metropolitan Police.