Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns has denied being 'Player X' and called it 'a complete lie' if current Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum has named him as the ringleader of fixing activities in a testimony to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).
The name of the former Kiwi international emerged when the interviews of McCullum and former Black Caps batsman Lou Vincent to ACSU were leaked in media. In the statement, McCullum said he was approached by a high-profile player in 2008 to fix matches and referred to him as 'Player X'.
Cairns released a statement soon after his name surfaced in the media, with the allegations that he was involved in fixing matches in India, England and South Africa. The former cricketer denied any such involvements and promised to prove his innocence.
"Everything I said yesterday stands. I totally reject the allegations against me and I will prove this," Cairns said. "However, I think it is very dangerous to try to do this through the media and court of public opinion, where it is impossible to present all the information and facts.
"I am therefore committed to concluding my interview with the Met Police as soon as possible and will work through the proper channels to, once again, prove my innocence.
"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," he added on a statement to Dominion Post.
"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."
Vincent, who is said to be involved in spot-fixing in five countries, has allegedly told investigators that he was taking instructions from a former international player. Cairns said he has asked ACSU to provide the statements of McCullum and Vincent's multiple times. The 43-year-old Cairns said that Vincent is falsely accusing him for saving himself from prosecution.
"They decline to do so but seem happy to leak information to the media which they deny to me," he said. "As for Lou Vincent, he appears to have confessed to match-fixing in respect of games played in numerous countries around the world, most of which I have had no connection to.
"He is in a desperate position. He faces potential prosecution and in trying to negotiate a plea bargain he appears to be willing to falsely accuse me of wrongdoing," he added.
The former Kiwi star said he failed to understand why McCullum has allegedly taken his name as he has never approached him or any other player to fix matches.
"To be clear, I have never approached Brendon or anyone else about match fixing or any other improper activity," Cairns said. "I am doing everything I can to get to the bottom of these allegations."
Cairns also said he is not aware about the inquiry process, as he is yet to be interviewed by the ICC officials. He added that he has nothing to hide and has no hesitancy in going before the investigators.
"I ask that people reserve judgment until all the facts are brought to light," Cairns said. "I have nothing to hide. I have been to court to demonstrate conclusively that I am not a match-fixer before. I will have no hesitation in doing so again."
