WELLINGTON, New Zealand – The acquittal of former New Zealand captain Chris Cairns on match fixing-linked perjury charges is a serious blow for efforts to stamp out corruption in cricket, commentators said on Wednesday.
A London court on Monday cleared Cairns of perjury and perverting the course of justice after prosecutors failed to convince a jury of his guilt during a nine-week trial.
New Zealand Herald journalist Dylan Cleaver, who originally broke the story that the ICC’s anti-corruption unit was investigating Cairns, said the treatment of witnesses such as current Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum would have players questioning why they should come forward to report corruption.
“Who’s going to want to be the next one to put their heads above the parapet and expose themselves to a skilled advocate who makes a living from shaping words to suit an argument?
“Nobody, that’s who,” he concluded, noting players who cooperated with investigators had confidential testimony leaked, then had their characters assassinated by defence lawyers.
Former England captain Mike Atherton, in The Times of London, echoed the sentiment.
“The verdict … could impact upon the sport’s fight against corruption, if, as a result, players think twice about whistleblowing and authorities long and hard about bringing cases to court.”
