Former New Zealand cricket captain Chris Cairns was cleared by a London court on Monday of perjury and perverting the course of justice relating to a libel case three years ago.
Cairns had been accused of lying when he said he had “never, ever cheated at cricket” while successfully suing former Indian Premier League founder Lalit Modi three years ago. Modi had used Twitter to accuse Cairns of fixing a game in the now defunct Indian Cricket League — a rival Twenty20 competition to the IPL — in 2008.
Cairns, who played 62 test matches and more than 200 one-day internationals, was charged last September by British police. But he was acquitted of the offences by a jury at Southwark Crown Court.
It’s been Hell for the last five or so years, and in particular the last couple of years. I think I’ve been through the mill and come out the other side and (I’m) just a very happy man.Chris Cairns
Asked if he could work in cricket again, the 45-year-old Cairns responded: “No.”
“It would be a pretty hard environment to go back into,” he added. “There has been a lot of damage done. I think that’s unfortunate and sad.”
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