Kaneria may take legal action against PCB for not clearing him of spot-fixing suspicions
By ANISunday, January 9, 2011
KARACHI - Pakistani leg-spinner Danish Kaneria may take legal action against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) if it does not clear him of spot-fixing suspicions, a lawyer for the player has warned.
The PCB omitted Kaneria from the 30-member national preliminary squad for next month’s World Cup and the ongoing Test series in New Zealand following his arrest in England on spot-fixing suspicions last year, although he was later released without charge.
British lawyer Steven Haurigan told reporters that both International Cricket Council (ICC) and British police had cleared Kaneria, but the PCB had refused to discuss the matter with them.
“It’s been frustrating for Kaneria as the PCB is not telling him what is the block in his playing for Pakistan and they (PCB) turned down our request for a meeting on Saturday,” the Daily Times quoted Haurigan, as saying.
“We don’t want this matter to be dragged on but if the PCB doesn’t reply I cannot rule out the option of taking a legal course,” he added.
Presenting the media persons with a copy of an ICC email, Haurigan said: “You can look at it that the ICC has cleared Kaneria and written that there is no ongoing investigation against Kaneria and the Essex police and the Wales and England Cricket Board have also cleared him.”
The lawyer said he had sought a meeting with the PCB to clear things up.
“We want to answer the PCB and clear up any confusion they have regarding the Essex police case, and secondly to know what objections they (PCB) have to Kaneria’s clearance,” he said.
“Kaneria has not done anything wrong, and because he has not been cleared by the PCB, he cannot sign up a new contract with any county in England. Kaneria has also given details of his bank accounts as he has nothing to hide, so we want to know why he is not allowed to do the job he loves to do,” he added.
The 30-year-old leg-spinner has so far taken 261 wickets in 61 Tests- the highest by any Pakistani spinner- and was successful with Essex during his seven-year stint that ended last year. (ANI)
