Wellington: An emotional Chris Cairns today said he was "100 per cent in the dark" about the ICC's allegations of match fixing against him and that he would co-operate with the anti-corruption unit's investigators to come out clean.
New Zealand Cricket was rocked by allegations of match fixing with a report in the 'New Zealand Herald' claiming that three cricketers - former all-rounder Cairns, fast bowler Daryl Tuffey and batsman Lou Vincent - are being investigated by the ICC for their role in fixing.
Cairns spoke publicly for the first time since the sensational fixing claims surfaced in the media and said his "heart sank" when he heard he had been linked to the ICC's investigation into three former Kiwi internationals.
In a lengthy and emotional interview to Fairfax Media, Cairns revealed the toll that the allegations he is being investigated by the ICC was taking on his family. He said he was in the dark about the ICC's allegations against him and that his family, in particular his mother and father - former international Lance - were doing it "tough".
"The hardest thing is the impact on my mum, my dad, my family," Cairns was quoted as saying by Stuff.co.nz.
Cairns cut short his TV commentary duties with Sky during yesterday's test match between New Zealand and the West Indies in Dunedin, to fly back to Auckland last night to be with his family.
But he was defiant, declaring he had nothing to hide and would co-operate with ICC investigators.
"I haven't heard from anyone. I haven't heard from anyone from the ICC, from anti-corruption," he said. "Honestly, I'm as much in the dark as you are," he said.
Stuff.co.nz reported that Cairns elaborated in an interview to Fairfax where he stated that "He felt like he was in recurring nightmare after having last year successfully defended in London's High Court similar match-fixing allegations made by a prominent Indian administrator."
"That he felt he had been "broad-sided" by the ICC given it had had no contact with him despite media reports an investigator has been in New Zealand for the past four months."
Cairns said the allegations had impacted significantly on his parents and wife and that he would co-operate with ICC investigators.
"I'm completely open to talk to anybody in any division of the cricketing world. I'm more than happy to speak to anyone," he said.
He also questioned how the issue had become public before he'd been contacted by the ICC. "That's the question burning in my head. If this is the ICC anti-corruption unit's secretive investigation, how has the media got it? We've got a million questions."
The 'New Zealand Herald' newspaper had earlier reported that members of the ICC's anti-corruption and security unit have been in the country over the past four months investigating the participation of New Zealanders in fixing "in more than one country."
The newspaper said the findings of the investigation would likely result "in the biggest sports scandal in New Zealand's history."
The ICC's investigation of three former cricketers is believed to centre on their activities since 2008 when they played together in a now-defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2008.
Stuff.co.nz reported that New Zealand cricket chief David White has emphasised the ICC's investigation did not involve any current Black Caps players, or games played in New Zealand "or under New Zealand Cricket's jurisdiction".
It has been reported the investigations relate to matches played "three or four years ago" and involved alleged offences in "more than one country".
Cairns, Tuffey and Vincent last played together for the Chandigarh Lions in 2008. The franchise was captained by Cairns in the ICL, which lasted only two seasons. However, the ICC does not have the jurisdiction to adjudicate on non-sanctioned "rebel" leagues, meaning their investigation of the former Black Caps must come from subsequent events.
