WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum said today he will testify against former teammate Chris Cairns in a perjury trial in London next year because he feels a duty “to protect the game”.
McCullum will be among as many as 12 leading cricketers who may be called to give evidence when the trial starts next October.
Cairns won 90 000 pounds (then $140 000) in damages in 2012 after he sued Indian Premier League founder Lalit Modi over an accusation of match-fixing. He was later charged with one count of perjury in the case.
In a radio interview, McCullum said he was disappointed to be further drawn into the case, but he would agree to testify given his obligations as an international cricketer.
“I guess it’s not ideal at all but you’ve got to protect the game,” he said.
McCullum is expected to be questioned about evidence he gave to anti-corruption investigators that was later leaked to British newspapers. In the testimony, McCullum alleged he was approached by Cairns on at least two occasions and encouraged to become involved in match-fixing.
McCullum said he was deeply disappointed the evidence he had given to investigators had become public.
