McCullum to testify against Cairns in perjury trial over fixing

London, Oct 19 (IANS) New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum has said he will testify against former teammate Chris Cairns in his perjury trial here next year.

McCullum will be among 12 cricketers who may be called to give evidence when the trial starts October next year.

Cairns won 90,000 pounds in damages in 2012 after he sued former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi over an accusation of match-fixing. He was later charged with one count of perjury in the case.

McCullum expressed his disappointment after getting further drawn into the case, but he agreed to testify given his obligations to the game of cricket as a professional.

The wicket-keeper batsman is expected to be questioned about evidence he gave to anti-corruption investigators, which later got leaked to British newspapers.

McCullum said he was deeply disappointed the evidence he had given to investigators had become public.

"The media have almost made me feel like I'm the one on trial which doesn't seem quite right," he was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

"But I would still do it again because I know that's the obligation you have as an international cricketer."

Cairns told New Zealand's Fairfax Media last month that the trial will give him "an opportunity to face my accusers in an open forum ... so that I can clear my name once and for all."