Former New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns anticipating perjury charge

Chris Cairns

Ex-New Zealand all rounder Chris Cairns has said that he is expecting to be charged with perjury after being notified by the Crown Prosecution Service of their intention to indict him on September 25. Cairns has stated that he will be giving his complete cooperation to the authorities on the matter and is confident that he can come out clean by proving his innocence.

Chris Cairns statement

"I can confirm that I have now been notified by the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK that it is their intention to lay charges against me on 25 September for perjury," Cairns said in a statement.

"I'm obviously extremely disappointed, however, at least there will now be an opportunity to face my accusers in an open forum, with some rigour and proper process around that, so that I can clear my name once and for all.

"I hope that, through this forum, significant additional information will be flushed out that will help people to better assess the situation, as well as the character and motives of the parties involved.

"I wish this wasn't the situation - having been to Court before, I know what lies ahead and how gruelling it will be and how tough it is on my family - but I have nothing to hide and I will do whatever it takes to once again prove my innocence.

"I will continue to co-operate fully with the authorities, including voluntarily travelling to the UK to face these changes."

Cairns had been interrogated by the UK Metropolitan police, the ECB and the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit in London, earlier this year, about his alleged involvement in match-fixing and the accusation that he had perjured himself during the trial involving himself and Lalit Modi in 2012 He had, however, categorically stated at the time that it was indeed at his own request that the authorities interviewed him.

New Zealand Cricket statement

Meanwhile, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have issued a statement in which they have acknowledged the likelihood of charges being laid against Cairns and have added that they won’t be making any further comment until the time that the court proceedings reach their conclusion.

"New Zealand Cricket acknowledges the decision from British police to lay perjury charges against former New Zealand cricketer, Chris Cairns.

"These charges, quite different from proceedings conducted by cricket authorities into match-fixing and corruption, will now be tested in a British court of law and be subject to the normal processes of a criminal trial. Accordingly, NZC will not make any comment on the matter until such time all proceedings have been concluded," the statement noted.