Speaking to an eager media core after the first day of the Pentangular Cup final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, former Pakistan leg spinner Danish Kaneria, has claimed he played no role in the spot-fixing case in which his former Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield has been convicted.

By our Staff Reporter (18th February, 2012)

Speaking to an eager media core after the first day of the Pentangular Cup final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, former Pakistan leg spinner Danish Kaneria, has claimed he played no role in the spot-fixing case in which his former Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield has been convicted.

During Westfield's trial, Kaneria who is Pakistan's 4th highest wicket taker in Test cricket only behind Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, was named in court as the alleged middle-man between Westfield and the bookmakers on whose orders Westfield deliberately conceded a fixed number of runs in an over in a Pro40 match in 2009 against Durham.

However, Kaneria has said he is completely innocent after being questioned by the media. "I am completely innocent from day one," Kaneria stated after the opening day's play of the Pentangular Cup final at Lahore. "The Essex police cleared me and I have clearance certificates from both the ECB and ICC, so I am not feeling any pressure. I am just enjoying my cricket."

Punjab closed on 266 for 3, with Sind captain Kaneria taking 2 wickets for 73 runs from 31 overs.