Kaneria named as go-between in fixing case
Lawyer brushes aside Westfield’s claims.
LONDON:
Just as the memories of last year’s spot-fixing scandal were fading away, another Pakistani cricketer, Danish Kaneria, was named in court on Friday as a go-between in a spot-fixing case involving former English county player Mervyn Westfield.
Bowler Westfield, 23, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to being paid 6,000 pounds to give away a set number of runs in the first over of a match between his Essex side and Durham in September 2009.
The London court heard that Westfield’s Essex team mate Kaneria told him that a friend would pay him to cheat, Britain’s Press Association reported.
Mark Milliken-Smith, lawyer for Westfield, told the court: “It is clear, we submit, that Kaneria and his associates targeted Westfield.
“Westfield was on the verge of the squad, more susceptible for that reason; less likely perhaps to be able to say no to the club’s international star, his future with the club uncertain.”
The court was told other Essex players heard Kaneria talking about spot-fixing while Milliken-Smith told the court a “blind eye” was turned to the rumours.
Westfield, who was playing in one of his first televised matches, received an interim suspension order from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Legbreak bowler Kaneria was arrested in connection with the case but later released without charge.
Kaneria’s lawyer Farogh Naseem brushed aside Westfield’s claims. “I think we can only take any step once the inquiry is finished,” Naseem told AFP in Karachi. “It is Westfield’s word against Kaneria and a lot will depend on what evidence he puts before the court against my client.”
Naseem reiterated that Kaneria had been cleared by the police.
“At the time of the police inquiry, Kaneria was not charged and cleared. The ICC (International Cricket Council) cleared him so we feel that Kaneria was discharged in the case,” he said.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) withdrew Kaneria after he was selected for the series against South Africa in October 2010 and has since not cleared him for selection, apparently waiting for the Westfield inquiry to be completed. Kaneria was allowed to play domestic cricket, however, and has represented Sindh in the ongoing Pentangular Cup in Pakistan.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq said, “This is really very disappointing for Pakistan cricket.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2012.
Just as the memories of last year’s spot-fixing scandal were fading away, another Pakistani cricketer, Danish Kaneria, was named in court on Friday as a go-between in a spot-fixing case involving former English county player Mervyn Westfield.
Bowler Westfield, 23, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to being paid 6,000 pounds to give away a set number of runs in the first over of a match between his Essex side and Durham in September 2009.
The London court heard that Westfield’s Essex team mate Kaneria told him that a friend would pay him to cheat, Britain’s Press Association reported.
Mark Milliken-Smith, lawyer for Westfield, told the court: “It is clear, we submit, that Kaneria and his associates targeted Westfield.
“Westfield was on the verge of the squad, more susceptible for that reason; less likely perhaps to be able to say no to the club’s international star, his future with the club uncertain.”
The court was told other Essex players heard Kaneria talking about spot-fixing while Milliken-Smith told the court a “blind eye” was turned to the rumours.
Westfield, who was playing in one of his first televised matches, received an interim suspension order from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Legbreak bowler Kaneria was arrested in connection with the case but later released without charge.
Kaneria’s lawyer Farogh Naseem brushed aside Westfield’s claims. “I think we can only take any step once the inquiry is finished,” Naseem told AFP in Karachi. “It is Westfield’s word against Kaneria and a lot will depend on what evidence he puts before the court against my client.”
Naseem reiterated that Kaneria had been cleared by the police.
“At the time of the police inquiry, Kaneria was not charged and cleared. The ICC (International Cricket Council) cleared him so we feel that Kaneria was discharged in the case,” he said.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) withdrew Kaneria after he was selected for the series against South Africa in October 2010 and has since not cleared him for selection, apparently waiting for the Westfield inquiry to be completed. Kaneria was allowed to play domestic cricket, however, and has represented Sindh in the ongoing Pentangular Cup in Pakistan.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq said, “This is really very disappointing for Pakistan cricket.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2012.