Kaneria working hard to clear his name

Leg-spinner hopeful of clearance after submitting ICC's letter, bank account details.

KARACHI: In a bid to get back into reckoning for the national team, out-of-favour leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has submitted a letter to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which confirms that his name has been cleared of any wrong-doing by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Kaneria, who has also submitted his bank account details, was dropped from Pakistan’s squad midway through the Test series against England earlier this year. He was omitted from the squad that took on South Africa in the UAE a day prior to his departure and found himself on the sidelines again when the Test squad was announced for the tour of New Zealand.

“The PCB sought details from me like everyone else and I’ve submitted all my accounts’ details,” Kaneria, Pakistan’s highest wicket-taking spinner in Tests with 261 scalps, told The Express Tribune. “I’ve also sent the ICC’s letter to the board in which the governing body has cleared me of all charges.”

The leg spinner, who also represents Essex, was named and then cleared of fixing charges by the Scotland Yard. Kaneria also met the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt and the board’s Integrity Committee amid speculations that he, along with Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal, were not cleared to be included in the 30-man preliminary squad for the World Cup.

“The meetings with the PCB officials were held in a friendly atmosphere. I am cooperating with the board and hopeful of getting clearance for selection. I am in good form and can prove myself a worthy inclusion for the New Zealand Test series,” added Kaneria who has taken 35 wickets in five 2010 Quaid-e-Azam matches so far for Habib Bank Limited. “I can also prove to be a valuable asset for the team in the World Cup as I am performing well in all forms of the game.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2010.