“It is clear to me that an approach is being made by Mr Cairns to Mr McCullum”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

John Rhodes, the Australasian head of the International Cricket COuncil’s (ICC) anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU) has revealed that New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum did not mention “match-fixing” when submitting a statement about being approached by Chris Cairns.

McCullum claims that Cairns, who denies two counts of perjury and perverting the course of justice, spoke to him about match-fixing in a Kolkata hotel room in 2008.

McCullum revealed that he had been approached three years later, but Rhodes pointed out that the New Zealand skipper had only mentioned a “business proposition” rather than “match-fixing”.

Orlando Pownall, QC, Cairns’ defence lawyer, quoted extracts from McCullum’s statement to Southwark Crown Court, which said:”We had a general conversation and then after about half an hour he [Cairns] asked me if I knew anything about spread betting. I told him that I didn’t. I initially thought he was taking the piss.

“He was telling me you can make a great deal of money. He told me you could make between US$80,000 to US$250,000 a day. He told me that he had never done it on an international match.”

Pownall told Rhodes that the statement only concerned betting and mentioned nothing about match-fixing. However, Rhodes said: “The inference is in the statement. It is clear to me that an approach is being made by Mr Cairns to Mr McCullum.”

“To fix matches or to underperform?” Pownall asked.

Rhodes responded by saying: “Yes.”

Pownall then asked: “Where does it say that?”, to which Rhodes replied: “It doesn’t.”

The trial continues.