Kaneria cries foul after exclusion for Windies Tests

KARACHI, Pakistan, CMC – Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has lamented his exclusion from the Pakistan 15-man squad for the Test series against West Indies starting later this month.

The 30-year-old was a part of a police investigation into spot-fixing during a Pro40 one-day match between Essex and Durham in England last year.

He was subsequently cleared, however, and Kaneria said the Pakistan Cricket Board were informed of that development.

“I can’t understand why they have dropped me after I was cleared by the Essex police and that letter of clearance has been submitted to the PCB,” Kaneria told international media.

“I have submitted whatever details I had … but now no board official picks up my phone and no answer is given to me.
“I have served my country for over 10 years and don’t deserve such treatment. When no charges were levelled against me and police cleared me, then why the PCB is treating me like this?”

Kaneria has been one of the country’s most successful leg-spinners in recent times with 261 wickets in 61 Tests. However, he has not played since the ill-fated tour of England last year.

The leg-spinner was one of two surprises in the squad with wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal also overlooked in favour of the uncapped Mohammad Salman.

Former chief selector Iqbal Qasim criticized the decision.

“After his brilliant wicket-keeping in New Zealand where he took eight catches in a Test last year, Adnan deserved a place in the Test team. It is total injustice against a youngster,” Qasim said.

“I don’t know what type of rebuilding they (selectors) talk about when they eliminated a deserving youngster.”
Guyana will host the first Test from May 12-16 while the second Test will be played in St. Kitts from May 20-24.