Banned Kaneria approaches ICC again

Former Test player claims decision to ban was ‘somewhat flawed’

KARACHI: Pakistan’s most prolific Test spinner ever, Danish Kaneria, has once again knocked on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) door to ask for reinvestigation into the Essex spot-fixing affair which led to a life ban for the leg-spinner.

In a letter addressed to ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson, Kaneria has made an emotional plea for reinvestigation.

Terming the decision to ban him ‘somewhat flawed’ and ‘irrational’, Kaneria has asked Richardson to ‘make findings which are unbiased and neutral, and to facilitate an amicable agreement’.

Kaneria believes that Mervyn Westfield, the primary witness against him, is not a reliable witness and was found to be a ‘consistent liar’ who was used by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to prove their version of the story.

The 34-year old also accused the ECB of handling his case with arrogance and an inherent bias to sweep aside the prevailing problems of spot and match fixing in English first-class cricket.

The spinner who had played in 61 Tests also blamed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for introducing him to bookie Anu Bhatt in 2005. He added that the board didn’t offer him any support despite him being a centrally-contracted player.

According to Kaneria, the PCB also refused to listen to his lawyer’s view point and he was left on his own throughout the investigation process.

 

PCB legal advisor refutes Kaneria’s claims

PCB legal advisor Taffazul Rizvi has however brushed aside Kaneria’s claims, stating that he was given PCB’s full support. “Kaneria, while appearing as a witness, stated that he was introduced to Anu Bhatt by a PCB official in 2005,” said Rizvi.

“He was cross-examined in detail on this issue as Anu Bhatt came on the radar of the ICC in 2008 and an investigator of ICC visited Lahore and personally warned him to stay away from Bhatt, yet he [Kaneria] continued to stay in contact with him during the summer of 2009.”

Rizvi added that Kaneria was duly represented by the counsel of his choice, who was granted full opportunity to argue his client’s matter, by the PCB.

 

 

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