Kaneria seeks help from PCB in his appeal hearing issue

Sources close to Kaneria, who is presently in London waiting for a fresh date for the hearing on an appeal against the life ban imposed on him last year by a disciplinary panel of the England and Wales Cricket Board from playing in England because of his links with bookmakers.

The panel imposed the life ban on Kaneria based on a confessional statement made by Kaneria's Essex teammate Mervyn Westfield who claimed that he was introduced to an Indian bookmaker by the leg-spinner who induced him into corruption during county matches in 2009.

But after December 10 was set by an appeal panel of the ECB to hear Kaneria's appeal petition, Westfield has, for inexplicable reasons, avoided attending the hearing.

"There are different reasons being given out for Westfield not being able to attend the appeal hearing. He didn't show up on December 10 after which the legal team for Danish said the appeal hearing couldn't proceed ahead without the presence of the main witness of the prosecution," the leg-spinner's brother Vicky told PTI here.

When contacted in London, Kaneria said he couldn't speak on the issue as it was subjudice as per advice of his lawyers.

"We are just waiting for a fresh date for the hearing and Westfield showing up," he said.

A source close to Kaneria in London said that he had contacted the PCB and informed them about the situation.

"The five member appeal panel formed by the ECB to hear the appeal is also in agreement that without Westfield they can't move ahead as the defence lawyer has every right to cross question him and inspect his earlier statements and evidence," one source said.

"Danish has asked the PCB to help him out by speaking to the ECB and pressing them to make Westfield available for the appeal hearing," the source said.