Misbah terms Kaneria spot-fixing link 'very disappointing for Pakistan cricket'

Dubai, Feb 18 (ANI): Pakistan cricket captain Misba-ul-Haq has said he is sad about leg-spinner Danish Kaneria being named in a spot-fixing case.

Prosecutors in the case of former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield, who was sentenced to four months in jail at London's Old Bailey, said the player had been lured into the fix after an approach by Kaneria.

Kaneria was arrested in connection with the case in 2010, but later released without charge.

"This is really very disappointing for Pakistan cricket," The Express Tribune quoted Misbah, as saying in Dubai on the eve of the third one-day international against England on Saturday.

"I wish that such things would vanish from our cricket," he added.

Meanwhile, cricket's governing body said the jail term handed down to Westfield serves as a 'timely reminder' to all nations to adopt zero tolerance on corruption.

Westfield admitted receiving 6,000 pounds to bowl in such a way that 12 runs would be scored in the first over of a 40-over match against Durham in September 2009.

"In November 2010, the ICC Board required all members to implement a domestic anti-corruption code which mirrors that of the ICC and the fact that this offence took place in a domestic competition is a timely reminder for us never to be complacent," Haroon Lorgat, the chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC)., said.

"Although the ICC is not directly involved in this case, we have followed it closely. While the ICC takes no pleasure from anyone being sent to jail, it is a decision of the court which we support and I believe would act as a deterrent to anyone who is tempted to sully the good name of cricket," Lorgat added. (ANI)

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