By Muhammad Asif Khan
KARACHI: Danish Kaneria, the Pakistani
leg-spinner has been under hot waters for more than two years now as the
English Cricket Board (ECB), last year, banned him for life for his involvement
in spot-fixing in a county game in September 2009. Kaneria has already filed as
appeal, against the ban, which will be heard on April 22nd.
In the preliminary hearing of
Kaneria’s appeal in December last year his Essex-county mate and the man who accused
him of the crime – Mervyn Westfield - did not show up but the Karachi based
lawyer of the banned leg-spinner, Farogh Naseem, is of the view that in case of
Westfield’s absence from the upcoming hearing, Danish Kaneria would probably be
cleared of the charge. “If he [Westfield]
appears before the appeal panel, then we would thoroughly question him, however
in his absence, the ECB will lose out on its star witness”, said Farogh Naseem
while talking to this correspondent for News One TV.
Kaneria, 32, was banned for life
and charged £100,000 in costs by an ECB disciplinary panel in June last year
for his part in the spot-fixing case. The lanky spinner was found guilty of luring
his team-mate [Westfield]
to under-perform and bringing the game into disrepute. Westfield, who was jailed for his role in the
case, gave evidence against Kaneria at the hearing took place in June last.
Kaneria's appeal hearing was
originally scheduled for December but, upon Westfield’s non-appearance, it was postponed
until April 22nd.
The lawyer, Farogh Naseem further
said that, in his view, the earlier given statement by Westfield would hold no
weight if he fails to attend the upcoming hearing as well.
“I believe his [Westfield’s] old statement will have no
weight, because he is not cross-questioned in an appeal as yet. As per the law,
during the proceedings of an appeal all the evidences and statements are
reassessed and we are looking forward to doing the same”, said Farogh Naseem.
“If Westfield would fail to appear before the
panel again, then Kaneria would be benefited”, concludes Farogh Naseem
Kaneria, 32, is the fourth highest
wicket-taker for Pakistan
in Test cricket with 236 scalps to his credit in 61 appearances. He last played
for Pakistan
in July 2010.
The writer is a Pakistani
sports journalist, and tweets @mak_asif
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