Chris Cairns calls Lou Vincent's allegations 'despicable lies'

Wellington, May 30 (IANS): Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns, on Friday, blasted his former teammate Lou Vincent and called the allegations that he's a ring leader in cricket match fixing as "despicable lies".

Cairns returned home after being grilled by Met Police, the ICC anti-corruption unit and the England and Wales Cricket board in London.

Cairns said Vincent had been caught cheating and was trying to shift the blame on others.

"The truth is he has been caught cheating and seeks to mitigate his sins by blaming others," Cairns was quoted as saying by Radio Sport.

"The allegations he and his ex-wife have made against me are despicable lies."

Meanwhile, Chris Cairns says that Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum waiting three years to make a statement regarding an alleged approach from him raised doubts about the accusations.

According to Cairns, McCullum made his statement to the ICC in February 2011 about an approach that is alleged to have occurred in March 2008.

Cairns remains defiant and said, contrary to media reports, Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills made no direct accusation against him.

"Based on the information I was provided in London, I now understand that there were two past players and one current New Zealand player, who McCullum said he spoke to about the alleged approach.

"These three ex or current New Zealand players have made no direct accusation against me. These players are Stephen Fleming, Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills, the brother of New Zealand Cricket Players' Association head Heath Mills. Two of these men made statements supporting McCullum's claim that he spoke to them," said Cairns.

"The third man told investigators his memory was foggy and he could not make a statement in support of Mr McCullum," he added.

Cairns also reiterated that he believed he is a victim of a conspiracy.

"Over the last few years I have felt the influence of nameless, faceless people casting aspersions about me throughout the world of cricket and perhaps beyond," he said.

"There are dark forces at play. The just-concluded trip to England has not persuaded me to think any differently."