“I was under direct orders from Chris Cairns to get involved in fixing”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent told Southwark Crown Court in London that he was “under direct orders from Chris Cairns to get involved in fixing”.

Cairns revealed that Cairns was his role model and added that the latter forced him to fix games when they both played for the Chandigarh Lions in the now defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2008.

“I was a young player who watched Chris Cairns play for New Zealand years before making the team,” he said. “He was the biggest icon player for me growing up and watching New Zealand play.

“I was under direct orders from Chris Cairns to get involved in fixing.”

Prior to joining the Lions, Vincent revealed that he experienced a “meltdown” as he was dropped from the New Zealand team in 2007. During that tough period of time, Vincent conceded that he suffered from mental health issues and began smoking cannabis.

“It was my heart and my life, (being dropped) hurt my heart,” he added. “I was mentally unstable and went to get professional help.”

When Vincent signed up to play for the Lions in 2008, he was approached by an Indian man, who offered him money and a prostitute to fix a match. Worried about the approach, Vincent spoke to Cairns, who allegedly told him that “you work for me now”.

Vincent also told the jury that Cairns agreed to pay him $50,000 per game to under-perform and added that he subsequently proceeded to do so in four matches in 2008.

“Immediately I went to Chris Cairns and told him what had happened,” Vincent said. “The deal, the room, the woman and being offered the money and how I went to report what had just happened. Chris was obviously interested, then there was a pause for a short period of time.

“And then he turned to me, looked at me and said ‘you did the right thing’ and ‘that’s good cover, right you’re working for me now’.”