Time for Kaneria to reflect on his conduct: PCB
17
KARACHI: Pakistan on Friday endorsed England's decision to uphold the life ban on Danish Kaneria, calling on the leg-spinner to reflect on his conduct and start a process of rehabilitation.
The 32-year-old was banned for his part in a 2009 spot-fixing scandal, in which he lured his Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield to concede an agreed number of runs in an over in return for money.
A disciplinary committee of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) banned Kaneria for life in June last year. His first appeal was rejected in April. On Tuesday, an ECB appeal panel rejected his second appeal, which asked for the ban to be reduced.
A disgusted Kaneria accused the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of not helping him, but the organisation rejected his claim.
“Kaneria was duly represented in the proceedings through a legal counsel of his choice and no question with regard to jurisdiction, composition, procedure or fairness of the appeal panel was raised by Kaneria's counsel,” the PCB said.
Kaneria hit back once more Friday, saying: “The PCB is acting as if I have not done any service to Pakistan.”
He added: “The ECB has made me a scapegoat to save their county cricket and England is one country which is against the revival of international cricket in Pakistan but our board is siding with them.”
The ban effectively prevents Kaneria from playing any form of the game anywhere in the world as boards under the International Cricket Council (ICC) have to enforce bans imposed by any country.
The PCB said Kaneria would remain banned from all cricket in Pakistan as per ICC rules.
“Therefore, Kaneria is suspended for life from any involvement in the playing, organisation or administration of cricket in any form or manner under the jurisdiction of PCB,” it said.
The body added: “The PCB hopes Kaneria will reflect on his past conduct and will now initiate efforts towards redemption and rehabilitation.”
Kaneria took 261 wickets in 61 Tests, the highest by any Pakistani spinner.
Three other Pakistani players -- Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir -- were banned in 2011 after being found guilty of spot-fixing in a Test in England in 2010.
Butt and Amir have confessed and are due to start rehabilitation under PCB guidance.
The PCB last week asked the ICC to look into the possibility of reducing Amir's five-year ban.
