http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314’s name crops up in spot-fixing case – Cricket News Update
Mervyn Westfield, former Essex medium-pacer, who was found guilty of spot-fixing, and sentenced to four months in prison this Friday, named Pakistani leg-spinner, Danish Kaneria, as the middle-man who approached the 23-year-old and coerced him into accepting
corrupt payments.
Westfield has been convicted for accepting a payment of £6,000, in order to bowl in such a manner that 12 runs would be scored off the first over during a Pro40 match between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Durham-c782 in September 2009 (when in fact, only 10 runs were conceded).
Westfield first denied the charges, but later pled guilty on January 12 this year. Judge Anthony Morris sentenced him to a four-month prison term at the Old Bailey, saying he hoped this case would act as a deterrent for other cricketers.
Kaneria’s name has been in and out of spot-fixing allegations. During his stint at Essex, the right-armer allegedly approached several players with spot-fixing propositions, which have been confirmed by several of his ex-teammates, including http://www.senore.com/Cricket/James-Foster-c1644,
and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Varun-Chopra-c2745, who claimed that Kaneria had suggested that there were “ways of making money” without throwing a game.
When the case first came to light, he was brought in for questioning by the Essex police, but was later cleared by the ECB, and released without charge. However, he was not cleared by the integrity committee in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, but continued on performing in the
domestic circuit, where he is currently captaining the Sindh team in Pakistan’s Pentangular Cup.
Kaneria’s lawyer, Farogh Naseem, has stressed the fact that Kaneria had been cleared of all charges.
"At the time of the police inquiry, Kaneria was not charged and cleared," said Naseem. "The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 cleared him. We feel that Kaneria was discharged in the case."
"I think we can only take any step once the inquiry is finished," he said. "It is Westfield's words against Kaneria and a lot will depend on what evidences he puts before the court against my client."
The PCB has also expressed caution in dealing with the new revelations.
"We do maintain zero tolerance toward corruption, but since nothing is yet proven against the cricketer the status remains same as it was."
Westfield’s allegations have dragged Pakistan cricket into troubled waters yet again. Only a few months ago, cricketers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Amir-c76675 were convicted on charges of spot-fixing.
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