Cricket: Bid to sign Cairns fails

WELLINGTON - New Zealand Cricket boss Christopher Doig has foiled another bid by English county Nottinghamshire to sign star all-rounder Chris Cairns.

Notts made an approach late last week after sacking Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar because of injury.

Notts are believed to have led the charge to sign Cairns earlier this year. When he showed interest, NZC offered him an upgraded two-year exclusive contract.

Doig said Notts accepted the grounds given for not releasing Cairns. "I said he wouldn't be free to do that because it wasn't in our best interests, with Singapore and Zimbabwe [tours] in the near future. Chris was fine about it. He was perfectly happy."

- NZPA