Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria found guilty of corruption

Leg-spinner charged with accepting money to under-perform during a Pro40 match in 2009 and Salman Butt returns to Pakistan after serving a shortened sentence for alleged involvement in spot-fixing.

Danish Kaneria played for Essex in the English county circuit. Neil Tingle / EMPICS Sport

LONDON // Danish Kaneria, the former Pakistan leg-spinner, and seamer Mervyn Westfield have both been found guilty of offences by an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) disciplinary panel, a statement said today.

The has happened on the same day Salman Butt was released from a British prison for his alleged involvement in a spot-fixing scandal during the Lord's Test of 2010 between England and Pakistan.

The ECB statement with regard to the Kaneria controversy added: "The panel will now consider the appropriate sanction against both players and a decision is expected later today."

Westfield was jailed for four months in February after admitting he accepted money to under-perform during a Pro40 match between Essex and Durham in 2009.

The 23-year-old seamer named Kaneria – arrested with him in 2010 but released without charge – as the link between bookmakers and players.

Kaneria was found guilty of two charges following a contested hearing which started in London on Monday. He had vowed late last year to clear his name over the case, saying he would take his case to higher courts in his home country.

Kaneria, 30, who has taken 261 wickets from 61 Tests, has not been selected to play for Pakistan since being withdrawn from the squad to face South Africa in October last year.

Westfield was also charged with one offence under ECB regulations to which he pleaded guilty.

Meanwhile, Butt maintained his innocence over the Lord's spot-fixing scandal but apologised for the first time for not reporting corrupt approaches.

The 27 year old was imprisoned for 30 months in November on charges of accepting corrupt payments during the Test.

Butt, teammates Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, and agent Mazhar Majeed were accused of arranging deliberate no-balls in return for money. Aamer was released in February after serving half his six-month sentence while Asif, jailed for 12 months, was freed in May.

Around 200 fans including Butt's father Zulfiqar gathered at Lahore's international airport as the player, wearing a green shirt and jeans, made his way through the airport after being cleared by Pakistan's immigration authorities.

Fans carried banners and chanted slogans in support of their hero.

An angry Butt shouted for space before leaving but he returned 10 minutes later to talk to the media, apologising and vowing to clear his name from the spot-fixing charges that derailed his career.

"To the people of Pakistan, all the cricketers, those who support us and make us stars, I apologise," he said.

However, Butt denied he had any links to spot-fixing.

"I have no links with spot-fixing and my only mistake was that I did not make a complaint against those who made offers. I am consulting my legal advisers and will decide on when to appeal against the ICC ban," he said.

"I want to come back as a good person and cricketer."

Butt said he hoped his difficult days were behind him.

"I am happy and relieved," he said. "I want two to three days with my family and once I do that I will hold a detailed press conference to answer all questions to clear my name from spot-fixing."

He expressed thanks to those who have supported him.

"I hope that my tough days are over. I am desperate to see my second son who I have not seen since his birth," said Butt whose child was born on November 3, the day he was sentenced.

The three Pakistan players were banned for at least five years by the International Cricket Council, which has ordered the Pakistan Cricket Board to rehabilitate the former stars.

The cricketers have a right to appeal the ICC ban in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.

Butt's father welcomed his son's return.

"It's a happy occasion for us and Salman will spend some good time with the family and after sometime we hope that his ICC ban is also lifted," said Zulfiqar.

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