Convicted England fast bowler Mervyn Westfield has been allowed 'special dispensation' by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to return to minor counties cricket with one year of his spot-fixing ban remaining.
Westfield was jailed in 2012 and banned from professional cricket for five years and club cricket for three for accepting 6,000 pounds ($9,606) to concede more than 12 runs in an over in a 40-over match against Durham in September 2009.
The paceman claimed he was 'groomed to fix from the age of 18' by Essex's Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who was never put on trial but banned for life by the ECB.
Reacting to the development, Kaneria told Dawn that the ECB's 'biased' attitude towards him was evident in the way it has treated Westfield.
“This is a clear case of discrimination against me and quite baffling that the man who confessed to his crime is given all the flexibility while my plight has been constantly ignored,” Kaneria told Dawn.
“I still don't understand how a man who has confessed to spot-fixing is being allowed to return to cricket while I remain banned based on an individual's statement and no real proof,” he added.
In an interview last month, Kaneria claimed that he was never given a chance to 'review the evidence' against him and was made a 'scapegoat' by the ECB on Westfield's testimony alone.
The Pakistan leggie, the most successful spinner in Pakistan's Test history, said he received no assistance in the matter from the country's cricket board.
But while Kaneria remains banished, the man who accused him and confessed to his crime is set to start a new chapter in life.
Westfield, 27, has been playing for Essex club side Frinton since 2014 and now been given permission to play for county second XI or minor counties for 12 months.
He will be allowed to play First-class cricket only after the final year of his ban expires.
“I'm really happy to play minor counties and second XI again - if anyone gives me the opportunity to do it,” Westfield told BBC Sport.
“I'm probably a little bit rusty. My body didn't used to ache as much as it does now, but I'm training hard and trying to get back my fitness.”
"This summer I'll probably get the odd bit of banter, but I'll just have to distance it and get on, just focus on what I'm trying to do, score runs and take wickets.
"I've done wrong. I'm just trying to fix it now and obviously I'm happy I'm back playing cricket."
