Chris Cairns denies match-fixing allegations

Chris Cairns

Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns has denied the match-fixing allegations against him after reports emerged that his former national teammates Lou Vincent and Brendon McCullum have named him as the ‘Player X’ in their testimonials to the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit.

Daily Mail reported that Ed Hawkins, an acclaimed sports betting expert, had revealed parts of McCullum’s testimony to the ICC, one in which McCullum has said that he was shocked at the approaches made to him during the 2008 edition of the Indian Premier League and then in the subsequent New Zealand tour of England, as he had regarded the Player X as his hero.

Cairns said: "I am aware that Lou Vincent and Brendon McCullum have made a range of allegations against a cricketer dubbed Player X. It is well known that the ICC/ACSU has been investigating allegations of corruption and my name has been linked by others to these allegations.

“I am being asked whether I am Player X. 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."

While 43-year-old acknowleged that he has been named as the Player X in the ongoing investigation, as confirmed by Nzherald, he has rejected the allegations that are levelled against the player by Vincent and McCullum. In a reply to a query on Twitter, he said:

@rugga13...I accept from the allegations out there that I am Player X...but I reject the allegations against me...

— Chris Cairns (@chriscairns168) May 20, 2014

Cairns also tweeted that there were bigger forces involved and he was being falsely accused of being involved in match-fixing.

Thanks for all the support out there and to all those who understand that there are bigger forces at play here...chat soon...cheers

— Chris Cairns (@chriscairns168) May 20, 2014