Former New Zealand cricket player Chris Cairns "has emerged swinging, saying if he is 'Player X' then match-fixing claims attributed to New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum are 'a complete lie,'" according to Mark Geenty of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Cairns released an "explosive statement" in response to an interview given by McCullum to the Int'l Cricket Council’s anti-corruption and security unit, which was leaked to the London Daily Mail. McCullum told investigators that a star int'l player "had twice approached him in 2008 to request he fix matches," and said he could earn over A$200,000 ($186,600) per match. McCullum said that he "rejected the offer." Cairns maintained his innocence and insisted "dark forces" were at play. Cairns’ statement said, "Based on the limited information I have received during this investigation, I believe it is being alleged that I am that player. These allegations against me are a complete lie" (SMH, 5/19). In London, Josh Burrows wrote Cairns "goes on to threaten legal action against anybody accusing him of corruption." In '12 he won £90,000 in damages after suing former Indian Premier League Chair Lalit Modi "for writing a tweet accusing him of match-fixing." Modi "appealed against the decision but lost" (LONDON TIMES, 5/19). Also in London, Ed Hawkins wrote McCullum told ICC anti-corruption investigators that "a player offered him" up to £107,000 ($180,000) to underperform. It is thought to be the same player for whom former New Zealand Test batsman Lou Vincent "admitted fixing matches in both county cricket and in the short-lived Indian Cricket League" (DAILY MAIL, 5/18).
