Inzamam backs former teammate and 'a man of integrity' Kaneria

Tainted former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has suddenly started receiving support from all quarters of Pakistan's cricket fraternity.

The player who was banned for spot-fixing in county cricket first got the backing of Rashid Latif; now, joining on that bandwagon is former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Latif has taken up cudgels to pressurise the Pakistan Cricket Board to reopen or review Kaneria's case with the England and Wales Cricket Board and Inzamam has come out in support of the banned Kaneria, saying he never saw the bowler indulge in any type of activity during his career that would cast doubts over his integrity.

"As a professional and as a friend I have never known Danish to be involved in any matters which would cast doubts over his integrity," Inzamam said, in his signed statement.

Inzamam also said Kaneria "always gave 100 per cent" while playing for Pakistan.

"I have witnessed a number of times him turning in match-winning performances," Inzamam, who played 120 Tests and 378 One-day Internationals, said.

"During this time, I have known Danish as a man of integrity and passionate about cricket. His love for the game is immense and his commitment has never wavered. He has been a successful player and is recognised across the world as one of the best spin bowlers," Pakistan's most-capped player said.

The ECB's disciplinary committee had imposed a life ban on Kaneria, who played 61 Tests, most of them under Inzamam's captaincy. The committee, this year, also dismissed the leg-spinner's appeal against the life ban from playing cricket.

The ECB termed Kaneria a grave danger to cricket and found him guilty of coaxing and luring other players at Essex county to indulge in corruption and link with an alleged Indian bookmaker.

He failed another appeal against his life ban which has been endorsed by the PCB in a commercial court of the United Kingdom.

Kaneria has maintained his innocence in the case and claims he didn't get justice from the ECB committee.

Latif has produced number of documents relating to the case, to highlight the fact that the bowler hasn't got proper justice. He also claimed that Indian bookmaker Annu Bhatt had been a guest of the PCB in 2005/06 in Pakistan for the series against England and India, something the board has denied strongly.