WELLINGTON: New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum says he will testify against former teammate Chris Cairns in a perjury trial in London next year because he feels a duty “to protect the game.“

McCullum will be among as many as 12 leading cricketers who may be called to give evidence when the trial starts next October.

Cairns won 90,000 pounds (then $140,000) in damages in 2012 after he sued Indian Premier League founder Lalit Modi over an accusation of match-fixing. He was later charged with one count of perjury in the case.

McCullum said in a radio interview Saturday, “I guess it's not ideal at all but you've got to protect the game and we're obligated to fulfill our obligations there.“