Cairns takes legal action against Modi
Wellington, May 23: The IPL saga continues to get murkier with former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns initiating legal action against Lalit Modi for alleging that he was involved in match-fixing.
Cairns was removed from the list of players at the third Indian Premier League (IPL) auction in January, with Modi stating that he was removed due to his involvement in match fixing.
The Kiwi had threatened legal action at that time and has finally decided to keep his word.
”I’m currently an interested bystander.
”We are still trying to have Modi served with papers.
We’re going through that process in India but it takes time to get through the court system. We’re waiting for him, though,” Cairns told the told ‘New Zealand Herald’.
”If he decides to go to the UK we’ll have him served there but it is so difficult to know his movements – especially with all the turmoil he’s embroiled in. It’s frustrating but we’ve initiated the process and just have to wait,” he added.
The former all-rounder lamented that the ugly controversy prevented him from bowing out of his illustrous career on a high.
”The opportunity is gone now. I’m finished. There was that one window of opportunity in the IPL when I was asked to put my name forward but I’m 40 in three weeks so reality dictates, even though a return was a romantic notion,” he rued.
Cairns however, admitted that nailing the suspended IPL chairman will not be easy.
”It was going to be tough anyway when you do something like this but we are left with no option. We will continue to pursue justice but at the moment he’s also going through a process which needs to reach its conclusion before any judgement is passed.
”We need to go through the proper channels to find out what to do next,” he said.
Modi is himself facing allegations of corruption but Cairns feels that it will not help his case.
”I still have to go through this (to clear my name).
There’s not much emotion or anything like that but it is sad I’ve had to go through this process,” the 39-year-old stated.
Cairns promised that he will give back to New Zealand cricket once the case against Modi is settled.
”Cricket’s not part of my life at the moment. It’d be great to help out in a New Zealand capacity one day but because of what has happened I’m a bit of a poisoned chalice, really.
”I’m a realist though and I’m not going to put people in a compromising position. Once this situation with Modi is sorted out I’m more than happy to help,” he asserted.
–Agencies