Danish Kaneria: After a denial, confessions and excuses

Danish Kaneria introduced his teammate from Esbad Mervyn Westfield to the illegal bookmaker Anu Bhatt in 2009. (Reuters / File Photo)

FORMER PARTNER OF PAKISTAN, Kanyan, a confessed his involvement. Six years after being sentenced to a lifetime ban by the England and Wales Cricket Commission (ECB), he was trying to deceive the match. In an interview with Al Jazeera, the 37-year-old who is still the most titled player in his country's history, admitted to having presented to his former teammate of Esbad Mervyn Westfield a "sadly famous Indian pitch preparer "and encouraged the fast pitcher

Westfield, a fast bowler, pleaded guilty in 2012, served a two-month sentence and a five-year ban for accepting 6,000 pounds to concede a number determined points in his first during a one – day competition match between Pro40 and England against Durham in 2009. Kaneria was also arrested with Westfield, but he was n & # 39; He was not charged for lack of evidence of his role. The court found, however, that the applicant had acted as "recruiter" for Anu Bhatt – the alleged match arranger – and then "cajoled and pressured" a "young and vulnerable" Westfield. The question was unearthed after Tony Palladino, the former Esbad generalist, who had ended up being the whistleblower, revealed to the authorities that the quick launcher had been involved after he'd been there. Allegedly "showed the money".

261 wickets on 61 prints nevertheless continued to deny these claims and even appealed, unsuccessfully, to the verdict twice. And then he finally broke down and revealed everything to Al Jazeera. "I'm calling Danish Kaneria. And I confess that I was guilty of the two counts of indictment against me by the ECB in 2012. I have become … strong enough to make that decision because you can not live in a life with lies, "says Kaneria to the camera., dressed in a suit and looking visibly older since his last participation in Pakistan in 2010.

In the following plot, he talks about his reasons for having tried to defend himself against the verdict that convicted him.After the ban, Kaneria had criticized the ECB in various interviews: "The ECB says I should show remorse, but on what should I to show them? On something I did not do? "Due to the ban, no team could choose Kaneria to participate in a match or tournament organized under the aegis of the ICC." They took my cricket, which is my daily bread, "he told BBC Asian Network in 2014. had also criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board for its support for Mohammad Amir, imprisoned and banned for his involvement in the correction of a test match in 2010, stating: "I do not know why they treat my case differently," did he declare. "He was convicted and went to jail. I do not know what's wrong with them. It's heartbreaking.

But here, on camera, Kaneria recalls protests against her innocence and tries to accept her guilt because of her father's poor health. "His health was getting worse and worse, and worse (sic). And I did not have the courage to face him and tell him I was wrong. He was very, very proud … very very proud of me, of what I did, to represent Pakistan, to represent my country, "he said.

In the same interview with the BBC Kaneria also denied ever being "pressured." Westfield to accept the money or to get involved. "" I did not pressure him or do what whoever discredits the game, so I'm not guilty, "he said. The shorts then revealed that he would tell Westfield if they found themselves again: "Why did you put a knife in the back?" I had a wonderful career – why did you destroy it? We recover everything, but for me, everything has been removed by the ECB.

But for Al Jazeera, four years later, Kaneria explains how he wants Westfield to forgive him. The 2012 court's findings accused the Pakistani of "knowingly" inducing Westfield by introducing him to Bhatt in a Dukes nightclub, with the intention of luring him. Kaneria would then have bought tickets for Bhatt and another Asian to be present at Chester-le-Street for the contentious match, where Westfield would have conceded 12 points in his first pbad.

"Mervyn told me that he wants to become a rich cricketer. I was very paid in Esbad and I was an international player at that time. And I lived a life, a very sumptuous life. So he also wanted to make money. I think so, he was targeted by Anu Bhatt. And I think he's fallen into that temptation, "Kaneria told Al Jazeera. And then comes his excuses. "I want to apologize to Mervyn Westfield, my Esbad teammates, my Esbad cricket club, my Esbad cricket fans. I'm sorry for Pakistan, as an international cricketer and senior cricketer, I should have gone one step further to tell Mervyn that this guy is suspicious, "he says. Kaneria then takes out his wallet and shows on camera the picture of his father, who died of cancer,

"I want to apologize to my father (take out his wallet to show the camera a picture of his father .) that has always been a model for me. And I always have his picture with me. "He then remembers meeting Bhatt on a tour of the Caribbean in 2005, and then accepting an invitation to a dinner party, during his tour of India in the United States. Pakistani team a few years later.

An Inappropriate Society

According to the 2012 ruling, Alan Peabad, senior investigator of the ICC's anti-corruption unit, had warned Kaneria that "Bhatt was heavily involved in "illegal bets" and was "therefore inappropriate society" for the Pakistanis to have .It was reported in April 2008 that the ACSU of the ICC had met some Pakistani players, including Kaneria, Younis Khan and Umar Gul. , for having attended a ceremony, which could be the dinner to which Bhatt was invited – during the tour in India the year before.

HOT DEALS

Kaneria regrets not having informed the authorities concerned of his contacts with Bhatt and his presence in England in 2009. "When the ICC came to Pakistan, she informed several cricketers and If I think he's a suspicious guy and he's involved in the repair, I regret bea A lot of people do not complain to higher authorities such as the English cricket commission or the ICC unit. I did not inform them or I did not tell them that this guy is here, "he says.

" I was also the biggest box taker for Pakistan at this time. time. I was earning a lot of money. I've lost everything, "he says. He then, hands clasped, pleaded for forgiveness and promises in turn to be an example and a guide for young cricketers to ensure that no one else is safe. 39, commits in the same way as him. "I want to apologize to people. I hope they … they will forgive me and give me a second chance in my life. I want to teach young people, young cricketers, that there are people who will tempt you, but you have to be strong, "he said.

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