Chris Cairns admits he “harboured a lot of anger and frustration” when his name was embroiled in match-fixing allegations.
Cairns between 2012 and 2015 was caught up in several trials after he was accused of match-fixing while captain of the Chandigarh Lions during the Indian Cricket League.
But recently, the former all-rounder has become paralysed from the waist down following life-threatening medical events. He had a major heart attack, then suffered a stroke during one of four operations.
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The 51-year-old was also diagnosed with bowel cancer only months after his traumatic medical events.
Speaking on the NZME podcast, he says he was able to go through his health battles having built up “resilience” from his court trials on match fixing, which he was never found guilty of doing.
“I harboured a lot of anger and frustration, but I carried that silently. I dug my hole in Australia and got on with life… but I was angry,” Cairns said.
“But now, after the last seven months, it’s so far down my thinking. It’s not a priority. It seems like another time, another place.
“Maybe during that time it (the match-fixing trials) built up the steel in me that allowed me to survive what I went through – because it was about survival at that time. I was on my own, cast as the villain, that was my role.
“Building that resilience up, who’s to say that wasn’t a contributing factor in helping me fight.”
Cairns in 2012 sued former Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi, who had alleged in 2008 on social media that the Kiwi was involved in match-fixing.
He successfully won costs and damages.
“No, you have to stand up for what you believe. Lalit did his thing by firing that (tweet) off,” Cairns said.
“He was the most influential name in the game of cricket and the unintended consequence of that set things in motion. If you had asked me that question in July of last year, I know there would be a different response.”
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