KARACHI: Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria hit out Tuesday against another court-room delay putting back his bid to revive an international career embroiled in a spot-fixing scandal.
A court on Tuesday again adjourned his appeal against the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) failure to clear him of fixing allegations. The new date set for the hearing in Sindh High Court in Karachi is October 20.
Kaneria and fellow Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield were arrested last year on charges of spot-fixing during a Pro40 one-day match against Durham in 2009.
Kaneria was later released without charge but Westfield faces criminal proceedings, prompting the PCB not to clear Kaneria for national selection.
"I am frustrated at the delay which has kept me from playing," Kaneria told AFP. "I don't know why the PCB is delaying the case."
Kaneria said there was no proof against him.
"When there is no proof against me why is the PCB not clearing me? It's mental torture. Is it because I am from Karachi or because I have a different religion?" said Kaneria, only the second Hindu to play for Pakistan.
PCB legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi said the board would now write to Britain's Crown Prosecution Service with Kaniera's consent to ask for details of the British investigation.
"Kaneria was arrested so there were allegations against him and the PCB wants the transcript or the tapes of the investigation," Rizvi told AFP.
Kaneria, who has chalked up 61 Tests and 18 one-days for Pakistan, has not played internationally since being dropped on tour in England last year.
The court delay means Kaneria will not be able to feature in Pakistan's three-Test series against Sri Lanka next month to be played in the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan also played five one-day and a Twenty20 against Sri Lanka.
Despite an international ban, Kaneria is allowed to play at home. He is leading a Karachi side in the ongoing Twenty20 tournament in Karachi.
COMMENTS (10)
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@Ram Bharose Singh: he is playing in domestics i think he is better than other inexperienced pakistani cricketers
@Ram Bharose Singh:
I am neither a Pakistani or Indian but by origin Indian. From what I have seen India is a very racist country, against Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and even their own religion if they happen to to be of a different community or region. Hindi is the national language of India and ~Jai Hind is the national cry. But I have seen people from Maharashtra cry Jai Maharastratra and speak in Marathi. This is acceptable? You have a possible prime ministerial candidate who is banned from entering Britain or the USA. Dont make laugh.
ET, Nice photo of Kaneria! Congrats!
Dinesh Bhai Kaneriaji, Looking at how non-muslims are treated in Pakistan, I have to say that it has got to be your Hindu religion. Come to India and get rid of this Islam obsessed world of Pakistan.
PCB has a certain bias against players from Karachi. This looks like a fact. I m from Lahore and I say this because Shoaib Malik's case was similar and he was cleared. Since there were no charges against Kaneria and Essex police dropped all allegations against him, a statement in writing from Essex police to this effect should be sufficient. Asking him to provide the transcripts is beyond him as those are the property of the local police and only attorneys can have access to them.
What does it has to do with your religion Kaneria? You got a chance to play for National side but you are not longer a successful bowler in ODIs, wherey you have an average of 45.53 per wicket with near to 4.79 Eco. No doubt you were a very good bowler and got a lot of media attention for that but you are unfortunately, a spent force. Stop mixing religion with sports ... if it was your religion how could you play around 500 hundred matches on national level and over 80 International matches representing Pakistan? Even yesterday you played Karachi in Faisal Bank tournament.
Even before this case, the PCB Integrity committee has asked him to submit the transcript of the proceedings of British police (required to establish the basis of his exoneration from Pro40 spot fixing)
He has failed to provide that. PCB asked for the recordings of those investigations, he has failed to provide that
On what basis should PCB clear him? Don't play to the media Mr. Kaneria, don't play politics, try to do the legal work through your lawyer, like a professional and let your performances on the ground (be it domestic T20) speak for themselves
You are not a politician, please don't try to be act like one !
"...It’s mental torture. Is it because I am from Karachi or because I have a different religion?...”
If PCB wanted to ban him, they would have stopped him from playing in domestic cricket as well, not appoint him captain of Karachi side