Misbah terms Kaneria spot-fixing link 'very disappointing for Pakistan cricket'

Pakistan cricket captain wishes that such things vanish from cricket.

DUBAI: Pakistan national cricket team captain Misbahul Haq said he was saddened by seeing international colleague Danish Kaneria named in a spot-fixing case which led to the imprisonment of an English county cricketer on Friday.

Prosecutors in the case of former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield, who was sentenced to four months in jail at London's Old Bailey, said the player had been lured into the fix after an approach by Kaneria.

Kaneria was arrested in connection with the case in 2010 but later released without charge.

"This is really very disappointing for Pakistan cricket," said Misbah in Dubai on the eve of the third one-day international against England on Saturday.

"I wish that such things would vanish from our cricket."

Meanwhile, cricket's governing body said the jail term handed down to Westfield serves as a 'timely reminder' to all nations to adopt zero tolerance on corruption.

Westfield admitted receiving £6,000 ($9,200) to bowl in such a way that 12 runs would be scored in the first over of a 40-over match against Durham in September 2009.

"In November 2010, the ICC Board required all members to implement a domestic anti-corruption code which mirrors that of the ICC and the fact that this offence took place in a domestic competition is a timely reminder for us never to be complacent," said Haroon Lorgat, the chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"Although the ICC is not directly involved in this case, we have followed it closely," added Lorgat.

"While the ICC takes no pleasure from anyone being sent to jail, it is a decision of the court which we support and I believe would act as a deterrent to anyone who is tempted to sully the good name of cricket."

Westfield's case came after three Pakistani players - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer - were jailed for their involvement in a spot-fixing scandal during their team's tour of England in 2010.

The scandal, relating to bowling deliberate no-balls in the Lord's Test for money, shook the cricket world and ended in lenghty bans as well as jail terms for the trio.

Lorgat praised the efforts by the England and Wales Cricket Board in dealing with the matter.

"In the context of domestic vigilance, the ICC acknowledges the commendable steps taken by the ECB in setting up their domestic anti-corruption unit," said Lorgat.

"The ICC operates a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and will use everything within its power to ensure that any corrupt activity within the game is comprehensively investigated and, where possible, robustly prosecuted.

"We have always stated that we will follow every possible avenue to ensure the integrity of cricket is protected."