Cairns, lawyer get bail on Indian Cricket League perjury charge case

New Zealand cricket great Chris Cairns and his lawyer Andrew Fitch-Holland have been given unconditional bail by a London magistrate's court in connection with a perjury charge related to a libel action he brought in England in 2012.

Cairns had won 90 000 pounds after he sued former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi over a 2010 tweet accusing the all-rounder of match-fixing during his time in the now defunct Indian Cricket League. he was charged with perjury last month and appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London on Thursday, reports Sport 24.

Cairns, who lives in Auckland, appeared alongside lawyer Andrew Fitch-Holland, who faces one count of perverting the course of justice.

The pair spoke only to give their names, dates of birth and addresses before the case was sent to London's Southwark Crown Court, with the next hearing on October 16.

Lawyers for the pair indicated they would contest the charges.

Both Cairns and Fitch-Holland left the court without commenting.

Forty-four-year-old Cairns captained the Chandigarh Lions in the ICL in 2007 and 2008.

Modi's allegation related to the second and third editions of the competition in 2008.

Cairns has been charged with making a false statement, namely that he had never cheated at cricket nor would he contemplate doing such a thing.

Fitch-Holland is charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by asking former New Zealand player Lou Vincent to provide a false witness statement in the libel action.

Cairns retired from international cricket in 2004 after becoming one of only 12 players in Test history to complete the 'double' of 200 wickets and 3 000 runs.