Kaneria's career in jeopardy, fails to satisfy PCB yet again

The PCB had earlier this month asked Kaneria to get a clearance letter from Essex in order to be considered for selection in the national team.

Kaneria said last week he had sent the Essex letter to the board. But a PCB official today confirmed that the letter sent by the leg-spinner was at least six months old.
"We can confirm we got an email from Kaneria with the Essex letter on May 12," a PCB spokesman, Nadeem Sarwar said.

"But the letter given by Kaneria is six months old and already in the records of the PCB. After taking legal opinion and after confirming with the ECB, the PCB considers that the said document sent by Kaneria has failed to satisfy the requirements of the board.
"As such he has been reminded again to submit the required clearance certificate at the earliest," Sarwar added.

Kaneria's brother said that they had resent the letter that was issued to them by the Essex chief executive last November.

"In the letter he stated that the county was not able to sign on Kaneria because of financial constraints and there was no other reason for not signing him again," Kaneria's brother said.

However, a PCB official said that what they wanted from Kaneria was a clearance letter from Essex clearly stating that he was no longer required in the spot-fixing case proceedings.

The leg-spinner, only the second Hindu to play Tests for Pakistan, was investigated by the Essex police last year alongwith teammate, Mervyn Westfield after allegations of spot-fixing emerged in a Pro-40 match against Durham.

The police after questioning Kaneria did not press any charges against him but have filed a case against Westfield.

The PCB had initially asked Kaneria to provide a copy of the statement he gave to the Essex police but the leg-spinner failed to provide the same, saying his lawyer had contacted the police who said the matter was subjudice.