Following the directive of the Sindh High Court (SHC), Pakistan discard Danish Kaneria was left with little choice but to give a go ahead to the PCB to obtain the transcript of his session with the Essex police in connection with the spot—fixing.
The Court asked the leg spinner to give his approval to the board to write directly to the Crown Prosecution Services (CPS) in the United Kingdom to obtain the transcripts and tapes of his questioning session with the Essex police after the PCB denied him any respite.
During the hearing, the PCB legal counsel Tafazzul Rizvi made it clear to the court that the board would not provide any relief or give Kaneria any clearance for national selection until and unless they know what had transpired in the questioning session.
“There is such a thing as adverse presumption in legal terms, and until we know what was said in the questioning session we can’t clear Danish.
“His integrity is in doubt and if we clear him, the PCB can face action from the ICC under the new anti—corruption code for member countries,” Rizvi told PTI after today’s hearing.
The court, meanwhile, has adjourned the hearing to October 20, he informed.
Kaneria moved to the SHC against the PCB after it refused to clear him for national selection on grounds of suspicion.
The bowler claimed that there is no reason for the PCB to not clear him for the selection as the Essex police has already cleared his name.
Kaneria courted controversy after his name along with fellow Essex player, Mervyn Westfield, surfaced in the spot—fixing following their Pro—40 match against Durham in 2009.
While the police cleared the Pakistani spinner for lack of evidence, it filed criminal charges against Westfield.
“We submitted legal opinion of a solicitor and barrister from London in court today in which they have said that the tapes and transcript were the personal property of Danish and if his credibility was under question he could obtain them,” Rizvi said.
“I told the court that we don’t know what he (Danish) is trying to hide from us. I also told the court that he should directly show the tapes and transcripts to former Supreme Court judge, Jamshad Shah, who is in our integrity committee and whatever decision he gives we will accept it,” he added.
According to sources Danish was out of ruling for Pakistan’s upcoming series against Sri Lanka as CPS could take as long as two to three months to send the tapes.
The only Hindu to have represented Pakistan after Anil Dalpat, Kaneria has not played for the national team since the tour to England last year.
He was also stopped by the board from travelling to Dubai in October to play in the Test series against South Africa in the UAE despite being picked in the team.
