Kaneria to appeal against lifetime ban for role in spot-fixing scandal

London, Jun 23: Disgraced Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who was banned for life from English cricket on Friday, has said he would appeal against the ban handed down to him by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for his role in a spot-fixing scandal.

Kaneria was banned for his involvement in the Mervyn Westfield spot-fixing case.

Westfield was given a five-year ban, although he will be able to play club cricket in the final two years of his suspension.

“I will definitely be doing an appeal. The people trust me. I''m an honest man. I''ve been playing cricket with passion and love. I have done nothing wrong,” Kaneria told Sky Sports News.

Westfield was jailed for four months in February, but served two before being released in April, after admitting he accepted $9,346 to under-perform during a Pro40 match between Essex and Durham in 2009.

Westfield named Kaneria, who was arrested with him in 2010 but released without charge, as the link between bookmakers and players.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) disciplinary committee said Kaneria’s evidence “did not stand up to scrutiny and he plainly lies.”

The disciplinary panel agreed, saying: “We are left in no reasonable doubt that Danish Kaneria knowingly induced or encouraged Mervyn Westfield not to perform on his merits in the Durham match.”

However, Kaneria, who has always maintained his innocence, said: “I’m very upset about this decision. For what reason they have convicted me I do not know. It is a very, very unfair decision against me. I''ve come all the way from Pakistan to say the truth. They (the ECB) don''t have any proof against me. I don''t know why they are saying this.”