In a bid to revive his international career, discarded leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has met the newly-appointed Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Zaka Ashraf. Kaneria has been sidelined by the PCB since last year as its integrity committee has suspicions about the spinner’s role in a spot-fixing investigation that was held in England.
“Kaneria had requested for a meeting with Zaka Ashraf and was given a hearing,” a PCB official said. He said that Kaneria had presented his case before the PCB Chairman and informed him that despite having submitted clearance certificates from the ICC and Essex police, he was being ignored by the selectors. “The chairman listened patiently to Danish and also asked chief operating officer, Subhan Ahmad to join the meeting. “Subhan informed Ashraf that the only issue the board had with clearing Danish was that it wanted to be sure about the interview the Essex police had with him and whether he was required any longer in the spot-fixing trial or not,” the official said.
Sources in the PCB said that Kaneria would know his fate not before January when the spot-fixing trial of his Essex teammate, Mervyn Westfield concludes in England. “In January the board will know when the trial ends whether Danish is required for any further questioning by the police or not,” a source said.
Incidentally, out-of-favour wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal also met the PCB chairman this week to plead his case.
Kaneria, who has taken 261 Test wickets, was hopeful of getting justice soon and said so far he has not taken any decision on whether to file a petition in the Lahore High Court or not. “I am consulting my lawyer and will take a decision soon as I am desperate to get my name cleared,” he said.
