The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) indicated Monday that Danish Kaneria would be spared disciplinary action unless and until corruption charges against the leg-spinner were proven.
Reports in the British media have alleged the 29-year-old is one of two players at English county side Essex being probed by English police investigating “match irregularities” - an accusation Kaneria himself told AFP last week was “baseless”.
And PCB director of cricket operations Zakir Khan, speaking at Lord's here on Monday, knocked back suggestions Kaneria might be suspended from international cricket while under investigation.
“I think it's very important that first these allegations are proven,” Zakir told reporters. “Then, of course, action will be taken.” Zakir was speaking at a Lord's press conference unveiling the sponsorship by the ground's owners, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), of the neutral Test and Twenty20 series between Pakistan and Australia in England in July.
“We wouldn't want to comment on some of the reports that have appeared in the press recently,” said MCC's Australian secretary Keith Bradshaw.
“Those matters are being investigated.” The allegations contained in Friday's edition of the London Daily Telegraph centre around 'spot-fixing', whereby players conspire to stage a betting coup on a minor aspect of the game rather than fix the result of the match itself.
“It's a serious issue,” Bradshaw said regarding 'spot-fixing' as a whole.
“I know the ICC (International Cricket Council) are putting a lot of their resources into it and that's probably all that needs to be said.”
Kaneria, speaking to AFP in Lahore last week, said: “The story in the newspaper is baseless. I have played my cricket for Pakistan as well as for Essex, with pride and honesty.
“For the last two years I have been Essex's best performer and have never done anything wrong.”He added: “No-one from Essex has contacted me, but I will be ready to undergo any investigation.
I will also take legal advice on such baseless reports.”Kaneria has taken 254 wickets in 58 Tests since making his debut against England in 2000
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Current Subscribers
