Essex Police handed Pakistan cricket a slight relief when it confirmed that Danish Kaneria, who was questioned over spot-fixing allegations while playing for Essex, was cleared of all wrongdoing on Tuesday.
Kaneria, who was released on bail until September 15, had denied “match irregularities” and had represented Pakistan in Tests against Australia and England in the ongoing series. However, poor performance forced the team management to release him from the squad and the leg-spinner rejoined his county for the remainder of the season.
“A 29-year-old man from Chelmsford has been released from his bail by Essex Police investigating into cricket match irregularities,” an Essex Police official confirmed to The Express Tribune adding that the other person involved in the investigations, fast-bowler Mervyn Westfield, was still not cleared.
Pakistan cricket is in the middle of its worst crisis with Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and having been questioned by the Scotland Yard over spot-fixing allegations levelled by the News of the World. The trio has been omitted from Pakistan’s One-Day International and Twenty20 squad following a meeting that took place in London that involved the players, the Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan.
“The police have cleared Danish as they didn’t find any concrete evidence to support the allegations,” Furqan Anwar, Kaneria’s lawyer, told Reuters.
Kaneria, who has taken 261 wickets in 61 Tests, was questioned by police investigating allegations two Essex players placed bets on their Pro-40 match against Durham last September. While the police refrained from naming the duo, media reported they were 29-year-old Kaneria and former England Under-19 pace bowler Westfield, 22, who was released by Essex last month. Both players denied the allegations.
Kaneria said he would not make any comments on the case and was just relieved to be cleared of any charges.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2010.
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