ECB bans Kaneria for life after finding him guilty of corruption

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has been banned for life by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after being found guilty of corruption, the ECB said on Friday. “We regard Danish Kaneria as a grave danger to the game of cricket and we must take every appropriate step to protect our game from his corrupt activities,” the ECB said in a statement announcing the ban. [caption id=“attachment_354598” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Kaneria has denied the charges. AFP”] [/caption] The sanction means Kaneria, 31, is suspended from any involvement in the playing, organisation or administration of any cricket under the jurisdiction of the ECB. Kaneria was found guilty of encouraging or attempting to encourage Essex team mate Mervyn Westfield to underperform during a match in 2009, the ECB said. The bowler was named in a London court in February as a go-between in a spot-fixing scandal that resulted in Westfield being jailed for four months. Kaneria denied the charges. Westfield, who has been released from prison, pleaded guilty to the ECB charge of accepting money to underperform and was banned for five years although he will be able to participate in club cricket for the final two years of the suspension. Reuters