Anti-corruption man believed Cairns involved in match-fixing

Former Indian Cricket League anti-corruption officer Howard Beer told a London defamation trial he believed ex Kiwi allrounder Chris Cairns was involved in match-fixing.

According to reports from the High Court, Mr Beer – a former Australian homicide detective – says the evidence he gathered during a match-fixing investigation led him to believe Mr Cairns was involved.

Mr Cairns is suing Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi for defamation following a 2010 Internet tweet which alleged Mr Cairns was barred from the IPL because of an involvement with match-fixing during his time as captain of rival Indian Cricket League (IPL) team Chandigarh Lions.

According to Mr Cairns the allegation is wholly untrue.

Mr Cairns left Chandigarh after about three games, with the official reason given as his failure to disclose an ankle injury.

Mr Beer told the court his investigations into allegations of match-fixing were shambolic, but said the “overall context” of evidence gathered led him to believe Mr Cairns was involved.

He said his investigations were hampered by officials who had their own agenda.

Mr Beer revealed the suggestion Mr Cairns was involved in Match-fixing at the ICL was first put to him by Kiran More, the former Indian wicketkeeper and one of the league’s executive directors, who would not reveal his source.

According to Mr Beer’s evidence, a hotel meeting which resulted in Mr Cairns having his ICL contract torn up involved a discussion about corruption allegations between Mr Cairns and former England captain and Australian-based TV commentator Tony Greig, the cricket website Cricinfo reported.

The trial before Judge David Bean continues with evidence due from Mr Modi.

Jock Anderson and Stephen Allely
Fri, 09 Mar 2012

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