Insisting that it has not isolated those players who have been given penalties for corruption and misconduct, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said it is closely monitoring the case of Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.
Kaneria, who is presently suspended from playing in Pakistan after being found guilty of encouraging spot-fixing in English county cricket, has filed an appeal against his life ban from English cricket in London. He is still awaiting a date for the hearing.
"It is a wrong assumption that we are not keeping track of those of our players who have been given penalties for corruption or misconduct and have isolated them. We are following the Kaneria case and waiting to see when his appeal is held," a board official said when asked about the criticism aimed at the board for allegedly abandoning Kaneria and other players convicted of spot fixing.
"We even sent our own lawyer on our own expenses to London to attend the hearing of Kaneria's case as we want to be fully abreast of the developments. But until his appeal is heard and a decision is made he remains suspended from playing in Pakistan," the official added.
The official pointed out that under the ICC anti-corruption code of conduct, a player who is penalised by any member country on corruption charges has to be given same treatment by the other countries as well.
"Right now he has been banned for life from playing in England and all other countries who have signed the ICC anti-corruption code are bound to implement the findings in their own jurisdiction. But we have not banned him but only suspended him until his appeal is decided upon," he reminded.
Kaneria, who has taken 261 wickets in Tests, was given the life ban sentence earlier this year at a hearing of the England and Wales cricket board disciplinary committee, which found him guilty of encouraging spot fixing during a match between Essex and Durham in 2009.
Kaneria though has claimed his innocence and appealed against the life ban, sources close to him said that while he is staying at a relative's place in London he is facing problems in pursuing his case because of the high legal costs.
"Kaneria's best chance of getting his life ban overturned or a reduced sentence lies in appealing to the Switzerland based Court of Arbitration for Sports but if his appeal is rejected, he will face problems getting finances to cover the costs of appealing to the CAS," a source close to the bowler said.
Fortunately for Kaneria, his job is still safe with his bank team in Pakistan although the bank had inquired from the board about his status and whether his services can be terminated.
"The board has informed the bank that he remains suspended for the time being until his appeal is decided upon," the source said.
