KARACHI : Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria hit out Tuesday
against another court-room delay putting back his bid to revive an
international career embroiled in a spot-fixing scandal. A
court on Tuesday again adjourned his appeal against the Pakistan Cricket
Board's (PCB) failure to clear him of fixing allegations. The new date
set for the hearing in Sindh High Court in Karachi is October 20. Kaneria
and fellow Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield were arrested last year on
charges of spot-fixing during a Pro40 one-day match against Durham in
2009. Kaneria was later released without charge but Westfield
faces criminal proceedings, prompting the PCB not to clear Kaneria for
national selection. "I am frustrated at the delay which has kept me from playing," Kaneria said. "I don't know why the PCB is delaying the case.Kaneria
said there was no proof against him."When there is no proof against me
why is the PCB not clearing me? It's mental torture. Is it because I am
from Karachi or because I have a different religion?" said Kaneria, only
the second Hindu to play for Pakistan.PCB legal adviser
Taffazul Rizvi said the board would now write to Britain's Crown
Prosecution Service with Kaniera's consent to ask for details of the
British investigation.Kaneria was arrested so there were
allegations against him and the PCB wants the transcript or the tapes of
the investigation," Rizvi said. Kaneria, who has chalked up
61 Tests and 18 one-days for Pakistan, has not played internationally
since being dropped on tour in England last year. The court
delay means Kaneria will not be able to feature in Pakistan's three-Test
series against Sri Lanka next month to be played in the United Arab
Emirates. Pakistan also play five one-day and a Twenty20 against Sri
Lanka. Despite an international ban, Kaneria is allowed to
play at home. He is leading a Karachi side in the ongoing Twenty20
tournament in Karachi.
