Kaneria implicated in English spot-fix case

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Pakistan international spinner Danish Kaneria was named in court on Friday as being involved in a spot-fixing scam that led to the trial of a former English county cricketer.

Prosecutors in the case of former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield, who has pleaded guilty to spot-fixing and faces sentencing on Friday, said the player had been lured into the fix after an approach by Kaneria.

The Old Bailey heard that Kaneria told Westfield he would be paid to concede a certain number of runs in a particular over.

Prosecutor Nigel Peters QC said the deal emerged after another Essex player, Tony Palladino, showed Westfield 'the most money he had ever seen'.

Kaneria was arrested in connection with the case in 2010 but later released without charge.

Westfield admits receiving £6,000 ($9,200) to bowl so that 12 runs would be scored in the first over of a 40-over match between Durham and Essex in September 2009, although in fact only 10 were scored.

This case took place against the backdrop of Pakistan players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer being jailed in Britain last year for their role in a separate spot-fixing scandal in a Test match against England.

Kaneria's lawyer Farogh Naseem brushed aside Westfield's claims.

"I think we can only take any step once the inquiry is finished," Naseem said in Karachi. "It is Westfield's words against Kaneria and a lot will depend on what evidences he puts before the court against my client."

Naseem reiterated Kaneria was cleared by the police.

"At the time of the police inquiry Kaneria was not charged and cleared. The ICC (International Cricket Council) cleared him so we feel that Kaneria was discharged in the case," he said.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) withdrew Kaneria after he was selected for the series against South Africa in October 2010 and has since not cleared him for selection, apparently waiting for the Westfield inquiry to complete.

Kaneria's petition against the PCB to revive his career was dismissed by the Sindh High court in November last year and despite vowing to take the case to higher courts Kaneria has not made any progress.

Kaneria was allowed to play domestic cricket and was representing Sindh in the ongoing Pentangular Cup in Pakistan.