ECB takes legal route to recover fine from Danish Kaneria

Danish Kaneria was banned from cricket for life after being found guilty of spot-fixing while playing for Essex in 2009

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has filed a writ petition at a court in Pakistan to force Danish Kaneria to pay up fines amounting to £2,49,000, ESPNcricinfo reports. The 34-year-old was banned from cricket for life in 2012 for his involvement in a spot-fixing case while playing for Essex county in England.

Kaneria, Pakistan’s most successful spinner in Tests, was also fined £1,00,000 by a disciplinary panel appointed by the ECB. The player lost an appeal in April 2013 but filed another appeal hoping to get the punishment reduced.

Khawaja Naveed, the lawyer representing the board in Pakistan, confirmed that he has filed the petition on ECB’s behalf at the Sindh High Court and is intent on recovering the legal costs incurred in the case dating back to 2009.

"I have filed a petition on behalf of the ECB in which we have demanded that a total cost of £249,000 be recovered from Kaneria," Naveed said. He added that the notice would be issued to Kaneria by Saturday and if he failed to pay, the court will have the right to sell his property in order to recover the money owed.

The Pakistani spinner, however, claims he is unaware of the developments and will take a decision only after receiving intimation from the court.

The ban imposed by the ECB has been endorsed by all cricket boards including the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). His domestic team Habib Bank Limited also parted ways with the bowler last year, but Kaneria is intent on getting his name cleared by all means possible.

“I have come to know about this only through media and if I get any notice I will consult my lawyers," Kaneria was quoted as saying.