Court summons PCB on Kaneria case

Leg-spinner perplexed after board refuses to clear him.

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court has summoned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on July 26 to explain why it has not cleared leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to play for the national team after he was released without charge in a spot-fixing case.

The court also restrained the PCB from using derogatory remarks against the leg-spinner, terming him an asset for the country and stated that unless his guilt is proven, he is innocent.

Kaneria and fellow Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield were arrested last year on charges of spot-fixing during a Pro40 match against Durham in 2009. Kaneria was later released without being charged.

Kaneria’s lawyer Muhammad Farogh Naseem maintained in court that because of the investigation carried out against him by Essex Police, the PCB stopped the leg-spinner from playing for Pakistan but even after he was cleared, the board still did not select him for the national side.

Kaneria featured in Pakistan’s Test series against England last year but has not been selected since for international matches as he was never formally cleared by the PCB.

Meanwhile, PCB legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi said that the court orders will be followed.

“Once we get the orders, we’ll follow them,” said Rizvi. “Usually such orders seek a reply so we’ll submit one.”

Kaneria said that he could not understand the PCB’s reasons for not clearing him.

“I’ve given every document to the PCB but they’re not clearing me,” he said. “I’ve committed no crime and that’s why Essex Police and my county cleared me in that case. My priority is to play for Pakistan but I don’t know what crime I’m being punished for. Every time they announce a squad, they say Kaneria isn’t cleared.”

The wily leg-spinner has taken 261 wickets in 61 Tests for Pakistan. (WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AFP).

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2011.