KEY POINTS:
Retired cricketing great Chris Cairns is keeping silent over claims he has signed with a rebel league in India attracting big-name players with large cash offers.
Cairns (right) flew back to New Zealand from his home in England at the weekend to attend to business.
The Herald has been told Cairns has signed a deal with the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League, but he has so far not responded to attempts to contact him.
Although retired from cricket in New Zealand, Cairns' participation in the league could put him out of favour with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) over any future official involvement in cricket here.
Asked if that was the case, a NZC spokesman said: "I don't know the answer to that."
"[NZC chief executive] Justin Vaughan has said he will deal with the issues when he is confronted with them ... if and when they arise."
Cairns had not indicated his plans to NZC, the spokesman said.
His former teammates Nathan Astle and Chris Harris have also been linked to the Indian league (ICL).
It was speculated recently that dropped New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming might also sign with the ICL, but he turned offers down.
The ICL, promoted by owners of India's Zee Telefilms, plans to launch a Twenty20 league next month.
Cairns announced his retirement in January last year and has since been living in England with wife Carin and sons Thomas and Bram. He returned in October to launch the Chris Cairns Foundation, which aims to raise awareness and funds for greater rail safety in New Zealand.
Cairns' sister Louise died in a rail accident in August, 1993.
Cairns played 215 one day internationals, taking 201 wickets and was just 50 runs short of reaching 5000 runs. In test matches, he scored 3320 runs and 218 wickets, which ranked him alongside cricket's greatest all-rounders.
