Wellington, May 23 (IANS) Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns says he has taken the legal course against suspended Indian Premier Legal Commissioner Lalit Modi over allegations of match fixing.
Cairns was not allowed to participate in the IPL auction after he quit the rebel Indian Cricket League, with Modi claiming that the cricketer was involved in match-fixing during his ICL days.
‘I’m currently an interested bystander,’ Cairns was quoted as saying in the New Zealand Herald Sunday.
‘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.’
‘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,’ Cairns said.
The irony is that Modi, the founder of the IPL empire estimated, is fighting allegations of financial irregularities.
‘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. I’m as interested as anybody to see how this pans out,’ said Cairns.
He said that he lost a vital opportunity to play for IPL.
‘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 (June 13) so reality dictates, even though a return was a romantic notion.’
Malthouse, Milne fined for slanging match
Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse and St Kilda goalsneak Stephen Milne have been fined by the AFL over a fracas at Docklands stadium on Friday evening.
Malthouse is alleged to have called Milne a “f..ing rapist” during a heated quarter-time exchange involving players and officials from both clubs.
The slur was in reference to a 2004 police investigation into allegations of sexual assault against Milne and team-mate Leigh Montagna.
No action was taken over the allegations.
On Friday night, Milne also apparently made derogatory comments about Malthouse’s age. The 56-year-old is the league’s oldest senior coach.
Both parties apologised for their actions via statements last night, with Malthouse admitting his comments to Milne were “wrong”.
However that was not enough for the AFL, which has fined Malthouse $7,500 and Milne $3,000 after interviewing both parties today.
Magpies assistant coach Paul Licuria has also been fined $3,000 for his involvement in the incident.
AFL football operations boss Adrian Anderson said in a statement that Malthouse’s language was “highly offensive” and that it was “unacceptable for a senior coach to insult opposition players during game breaks”.
“This conduct creates a volatile situation on the ground that could easily get out of hand,” Anderson said.
“This is not the right example to set for coaches at community level.
“Michael recognises his conduct was wrong and his public apology to Milne was taken into account in his favour in determining his sanction.
“Licuria used threatening language towards Milne in the incident. His conduct had the potential to seriously escalate the situation.
“He recognises that this was totally inappropriate for someone in his role.
“Milne was aggressive and insulting to both Malthouse and Licuria.
“Milne used language towards Licuria that was homophobic and unacceptable. Milne’s public apology was also taken into account in his favour in determining sanction.”
The two clubs had been prepared to complain to the AFL prior to reaching their agreement last night.