Danish Kaneria admits role in match-fixing, says ‘Can’t live a life with lies’

After six long years, a Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria confessed to having involved in match-fixing in England. Danish Kaneria said, “I can not live a life with lies”.

Beside Danish Kaneria, former Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield was also involved in match-fixing. Westfield was sentenced to imprisonment due to match-fixing and Kaneria was given a life ban by England cricket board.

While giving an Interview to Al-Jazeera’s Investigative Unit, Kaneria admitted his role in the match-fixing scandal.

“My name is Danish Kaneria and I admit that I was guilty of the two charges brought against me by the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2012,” Kaneria told Al Jazeera.

Gathering courage to speak the truth, Kaneria said, “I have become strong enough to make this decision because you cannot live a life with lies.”

Having regrets of indulging in match-fixing, Kaneria apologised to Mervyn Westfield, Essex teammates, Essex cricket club, Essex cricket fans and to the country, Pakistan.

Westfield, 23 at the time, had admitted to accepting 6000 pounds in return for conceding 12 runs in an over during a Pro40 match against Durham in September 2009. He was jailed after pleading guilty to the charge of accepting or obtaining corrupt payments. Kaneria was the middleman in the scam.

Kaneria introduced Westfield to the bookie Anu Bhatt, who was on the ICC radar for a person involved in illegal betting. Kaneria was also arrested but avoided criminal charges when English legal authorities decided they lacked the evidence for a conviction.

Citing reason behind maintaining his innocence at the time was that his father — who died of cancer in 2013 — had been in poor health.

“His health was getting worse and worse,” Kaneria said. “I didn’t have the courage to face him and tell him that I was wrong. He was a very, very proud guy. Very, very proud of me and what I did, representing Pakistan, representing my country.”

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