'Banned for life' Kaneria accuses ECB of 'discrimination' and 'unfair treatment'

Karachi - Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who is facing a worldwide life ban from all forms of cricket, has accused the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) disciplinary panel of 'discrimination' and 'unfair treatment'.

The ECB had banned Kaneria for life and fined him 100,000 pounds after it found him guilty of spot-fixing in county matches while playing for Essex, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) executive board urging a worldwide ban for Kaneria.

"The ECB panel behavior was discriminatory and I am confident that we will win our appeal against the ban," the Daily Times quoted Kaneria, as saying.

 The leg-spinner has not played for Pakistan since September 2010, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not cleared him for selection because of the spot fixing allegations that surfaced first in 2010 against Kaneria and his Essex teammate, Mervyn Westfield. The ECB panel banned Kaneria on basis of evidence provided by Westfield, who was also banned for five years.

"There was no incriminating or strong evidence against me. Interestingly, even the Essex players who appeared during the trial didn't support the allegations made by Westfield," Kaneria said.

"What surprised me and my lawyer was that the panel didn't push Westfield to produce proper evidence to support his allegations against me. It appeared to me as if they had taken a decision to ban me even before the hearing started," he said.

Kaneria said he was deeply disappointed by the ICC board call for a worldwide ban as he pointed out he still had the right to appeal against the ECB ban.

"Since 2010 I have also been facing the PCB integrity committee and have tried to do my best to respond to all their queries. I am innocent and I will fight to clear my name," he said.