Modi directed to pay Chris Cairns ?90,000 as libel charges

MUMBAI: Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has lost libel case against former New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns and as a consequence has to pay : ?90,000 in damages, according to to a London High Court order.

Modi will now have to pay up a part of the damages within the next 28 days and has until 20 April to file an appeal. The court also refused to entertain his plea for a stay on the damages.

Cairns, who was captain of Chandigarh Lions in the now defunct Indian Cricket League, had his contract terminated in October 2008, on allegations of breach of terms of his contract by failing to disclose an ankle injury.

As IPL chairman Modi had alleged that Cairns was involved in match fixing while justifying the decision to keep Cairns out of the league following which the cricketer sued Modi.

Cairns contended that the match-fixing allegation put a strain on his marriage as well.