Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria finally admits guilt in Mervyn Westfield spot-fixing scandal
Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has finally admitted his role in a spot-fixing scandal involving former Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield, more than six years after he was banned by the ECB.
Westfield was jailed for four months after pleading guilty to accepting a £6,000 payment from an illegal bookmaker to concede a set number of runs off an over in a 40-over county match against Durham in 2009. It was Kaneria who introduced his Essex team-mate to the bookmaker.
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Kaneria, who had repeatedly denied any involvement, was nevertheless banned for life by the ECB in June 2012 for "cajoling and pressurising" Westfield into accepting money.
And now, at last, he has admitted guilt.
"My name is Danish Kaneria and I admit that I was guilty of the two charges brought against me by the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2012," the 37 year-old told Al Jazeera. "I have become strong enough to make this decision, because you cannot live a life with lies.
"I want to apologise to Mervyn Westfield, my Essex team-mates, my Essex cricket club, my Essex cricket fans. I say sorry to Pakistan.
"If the ECB and ICC (The International Cricket Council) and other bodies would give me a second chance I can help to educate young people in cricket, teach them that if you do wrong you are finished like me."
Kaneria remains Pakistan's most successful spinner with 261 wickets in 61 Tests.
He last played for Pakistan against England at Trent Bridge Test in 2010, and has not appeared in any first-class game since March 2012.
Westfield has accepted Kaneria's apology, telling The Daily Mail: "This whole chapter of spot-fixing changed my life, but I have never blamed anyone for the terrible mistake I made.
"However, opening up about my wrongdoing and telling the truth allowed me to move on. I hope that Danish finds peace and closure by doing this, and I wish him all the best for the future."
