This looks as if /Users/root/.cpan/sources/modules/02packages.details.txt.gz is actually an HTML page and not a tar archive. What does the file look like if you look at it with a text editor?

Are you sure that cpan (and perl) can connect to the outside world?

In reply to Re: Upgrade to Big Sur perl issue by Corion
in thread Upgrade to Big Sur perl issue by redsox43

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