Udy Joshi is accused of buggery and indecently assaulting the 13-year-old son of a cricket club member in the city.
The 66-year-old, who the court was told represented Sussex during his professional career, allegedly committed the historic offences after signing up to play in Belfast.
Details were disclosed as Joshi, with an address at Beverley Gardens, Stanmore, Middlesex, applied for permission to be allowed to move on bail to the United States.
A prosecuting lawyer claimed the assaults happened in 1979 when Joshi was involved in coaching as well as playing.
The alleged victim also reported having to fight the accused off when he tried to get into his bed after returning the following year, the court heard.
Although the teenager confided in a school friend, wider disclosure was not made until 1998, according to the prosecution.
Crown counsel Nicola Auret said Joshi had returned to India, but was then arrested and charged when he returned to Belfast for a reunion event last November.
A judge was told he is seeking to vary his bail to go to America, where he has obtained citizenship and now regards as home.
Luke Curran, defending, said the accused moved to the US in 1997 following the end of his career.
Joshi, who was not present in court, was unaware police were seeking him until his arrest and could lodge a £40,000 cash surety to secure the variation, Mr Curran added.
Bangor man Robert Hamilton, who got to know the cricketer during his time in Northern Ireland from 1979-82, testified on his behalf.
Mr Hamilton said he arranged for Joshi to take coaching sessions in Carrickfergus and kept in touch ever since.
"I found him a man of unimpeachable character. Very even tempered and never knew him to raise his voice," he told the court.
The judge described the application to be bailed outside the United Kingdom as "if not unique, certainly unusual".
The judge adjourned the case for a week to allow police to check out the proposed address and for the money to be lodged.
