Cash-strapped Danish Kaneria says he is dying, appeals to Indian cricket board (BCCI) for help

Danish Kaneria, the former Pakistan spinner who has been banned for life from cricket, recently revealed that he is living on his last savings and now seeks help from Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Kaneria was found guilty of spot fixing whileplaying for English club Essex and had evidences to confirm the claims, which resulted in his life-ban. He has so far appealed thrice, all the hearings going against him. Still, Kaneria says that he is innocent and wants BCCI to get into the matter and help him out. The player said that he wants one last chance to prove his innocence and wants BCCI to connect him to the International Cricket Council (ICC) as all his pleas has went in vain. READ: Danish Kaneria challenges ECB’s petition in Sindh High Court

According to a report in Mid-day, the former spinner said, “I am living on my last savings. I do not know how long I will survive. I can even teach young Indians the art of spin, can’t I? Why can’t they call me? I am one of them. Everything else has dried up for me in Pakistan, I seem to have no takers for my appeals from the PCB. I am dying.” READ:Danish Kaneria hopes for help to erase ECB fine

He also stated that the fact that he is a minority in Pakistan has played the major role behind the ‘injustice’. “It is because I am a Hindu, a minority in Pakistan. It is because I refused to admit my involvement in spot fixing when the ECB charged me. I want to be heard, is it very difficult to hear me out?”

The cricketer said compared his case to the one of Mohammad Aamer. “The Scotland Yard found no evidence on me, the ECB reacted on the basis on confessions made by one cricketer. Look at the way PCB has handled Mohammad Amir’s case. What about me? Isn’t that unfair?”

But when reminded of the fact that Aamer had admitted his guilt and things proceeded afterwards, Kaneria said, “He did because he was involved, I didn’t because I was not, I was not, I was not. It’s almost like punishing me for introducing Mervyn Westfield to Anu Bhatt.”

Anu Bhatt, a business tycoon based from India,was involved in illegal cricket betting and had invited a few Pakistan cricketers including Kaneria to his place for dinner during Pakistan’s 2007 tour. Reports said that the cricketers were presented with expensive gifts there. ICC Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) sent out a warning to Kaneria following the incident, which was ignored by the player and he introduced English cricketer Westfield to Bhatt. Westfield too part in a spot-fixing case later, and the exchange of money for the same took place in Kaneria’s car in presence of Bhatt.

Westfield was handed a four month imprisonment but the incident more vividly affected Kaneria’s career. “They blamed me for everything, I was out of the national selection but still played domestic cricket in Pakistan.” England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) accused him for being the influence and banned him for life.

“I am blamed, punished for a crime I have not committed. When I appealed against the ECB ruling, Westfield did not even testify and yet, ECB was relying on his statements. Isn’t this racism?”, the player said.

“See what I have been reduced to by the ECB, ICC and PCB. I cannot play any cricket which falls under the ambit of PCB. I cannot visit a PCB ground, nor I can train at their facilities. I cannot even meet my former cricketer friends. It’s like living under house arrest,” he added.

Kaneria, who still practices regularly, believes that he still has cricket left in him and BCCI can help him save that and his life. “Only BCCI can save me. Anurag Thakur (secretary) should consider my case and urge Shashank Manohar (president) to speak to the ICC. Lift the ban, help me get a honourable exit,” he said. “It will save me, my life, and whatever cricket is left in me.”