Danish Kaneria admits role in Westfield spot-fixing case

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has admitted his role in a spot-fixing case involving former Essex team mate Mervyn Westfield on Thursday, more than six years after he was banned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Westfield was jailed for four months after pleading guilty to accepting a payment to concede a set number of runs off an over in a 40-overs English county match against Durham in 2009.

Kaneria, who had repeatedly denied any involvement in trying to engineer particular situations in a game, was banned for life by the ECB in June 2012 for 'cajoling and pressurising' Westfield into accepting money.

"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," the 37-year-old told Al Jazeera.

"I have become strong enough to make this decision, because you cannot live a life with lies."

Kaneria remains Pakistan's most successful spinner with 261 wickets in 61 tests.

He last played for Pakistan against England at Trent Bridge Test in 2010, and has not appeared in any first-class game since March 2012.

"I want to apologise to Mervyn Westfield, my Essex teammates, my Essex cricket club, my Essex cricket fans. I say sorry to Pakistan," Kaneria added.

"If the ECB and ICC (The International Cricket Council) and other bodies would give me a second chance I can help to educate young people in cricket, teach them that if you do wrong you are finished like me."