Clearing the air: I never approached BCCI, says Kaneria

Banned leg-spinner thanks fans for their support, vows to keep on fighting

KARACHI: Banned cricketer Danish Kaneria has said that he never approached the Board of Cricket Control for India (BCCI) to seek help to get rid of his life ban and termed recent reports claiming otherwise,‘baseless’.

Reports in the Indian media had claimed that the leg-spinner wants the BCCI to intervene on his behalf as he feels the home board is not doing its bit.

Kaneria, who is Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in Test cricket as a spinner, stated he was approached by an Indian journalist to interview him about his case.



“The reporter asked me how I feel that the likes of [Mohammad] Amir, Salman [Butt] and [Mohammad] Asif have all returned to playing ways while I am still moving from pillar to post searching for justice,” Kaneria told The Express Tribune.

“My reply was that I’m frustrated as I’ve not been heard properly.”

The leg-spinner felt there are those who don’t want him to return. “I need everyone’s help in fighting my case because the English and Wales Cricket Board is trying to close all the doors on me, while the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not helped me to my liking. They should have fought my case with the same intent as they fought for Amir and others.”



Praising the Pakistan fans

The 35-year-old added that he still receives love from Pakistani fans, which motivates him to keep fighting his case.

“The people and fans of Pakistan want to see me serve Pakistan cricket but I feel there are some officials within the PCB who don’t want to see me again because it could turn out to be problematic for them,” he added.

Kaneria must show remorse, says PCB official

A PCB official said nothing will come out of Kaneria’s case if he doesn’t show remorse, otherwise he will have to keep on struggling like he has done in the past.



The board official stated that the difference between Kaneria and other such cases is that those other players have shown remorse and guilt.

“Kaneria needs to understand that he is fighting a lost cause because this hasn’t helped him at all in the last five years,” he said. “He has tried to fight the life ban in all possible forums but there hasn’t been any success. It’s high time he decides what he wants to do next. If he is willing to show remorse and accept his guilt, the board can help him.”

Kaneria, however, maintains that there is no need to show remorse as he has done nothing wrong.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2016.

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