Kaneria disappointed as SHC dismisses petition
Leg-spinner says decision not based on merit, will meet PCB chairman.
KARACHI:
As the Sindh High Court (SHC) dismissed Danish Kaneria’s petition against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the leg-spinner could only express his disappointment at the outcome that keeps him from being selected to represent the national team.
Kaneria, who filed the petition in the SHC seeking the court’s help in persuading the cricket board to choose him for the national squad, said the decision was not based on merit.
“I was hopeful and was looking forward to the court doing the right thing here,” said Kaneria, whose petition was dismissed on technical ground of jurisdiction. “But I’m highly disappointed and in my opinion this decision is not based on merit at all.”
The leg-spinner has not been selected for Pakistan since October last year after he was questioned by the Essex Police in a spot-fixing case during a Pro40 match in England where teammate Mervyn Westfield was also charged.
While Westfield faces a criminal investigation, Kaneria was released without any charges but the PCB has kept him on the sidelines, seeking proof of his innocence in the case.
Following continued omission, Kaneria filed a petition in the SHC, challenging the PCB Integrity Committee’s decision.
Kaneria said the SHC’s decision was not fair. “The tapes, which were asked for, are unreachable as the British police directed us not to share it with any third party since Westfield’s trial is starting from January,” he added.
Kaneria to consult lawyers
The leg-break bowler, Pakistan’s leading wicket-taking spinner in Tests, said he will consult his lawyers to chalk out his future strategy. Kaneria hoped to meet the PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf soon. “I will decide my due course of action after consulting my lawyers. It is a lot of mental stress and I am losing valuable time.
“I have not gotten a chance to meet him [PCB chairman] yet but since I am here in Lahore, I am looking forward to meeting him,” added Kaneria, who played his last Test against hosts England last year.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2011.
As the Sindh High Court (SHC) dismissed Danish Kaneria’s petition against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the leg-spinner could only express his disappointment at the outcome that keeps him from being selected to represent the national team.
Kaneria, who filed the petition in the SHC seeking the court’s help in persuading the cricket board to choose him for the national squad, said the decision was not based on merit.
“I was hopeful and was looking forward to the court doing the right thing here,” said Kaneria, whose petition was dismissed on technical ground of jurisdiction. “But I’m highly disappointed and in my opinion this decision is not based on merit at all.”
The leg-spinner has not been selected for Pakistan since October last year after he was questioned by the Essex Police in a spot-fixing case during a Pro40 match in England where teammate Mervyn Westfield was also charged.
While Westfield faces a criminal investigation, Kaneria was released without any charges but the PCB has kept him on the sidelines, seeking proof of his innocence in the case.
Following continued omission, Kaneria filed a petition in the SHC, challenging the PCB Integrity Committee’s decision.
Kaneria said the SHC’s decision was not fair. “The tapes, which were asked for, are unreachable as the British police directed us not to share it with any third party since Westfield’s trial is starting from January,” he added.
Kaneria to consult lawyers
The leg-break bowler, Pakistan’s leading wicket-taking spinner in Tests, said he will consult his lawyers to chalk out his future strategy. Kaneria hoped to meet the PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf soon. “I will decide my due course of action after consulting my lawyers. It is a lot of mental stress and I am losing valuable time.
“I have not gotten a chance to meet him [PCB chairman] yet but since I am here in Lahore, I am looking forward to meeting him,” added Kaneria, who played his last Test against hosts England last year.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2011.