The former Essex man is the board’s key witness as they look to uphold Kaneria’s lifetime ban.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have told former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield to attend Danish Kaneria’s appeal hearing.
Westfield is the key witness for the ECB as Kaneria looks to have his life ban in the UK rescinded.
The Pakistani bowler was given the ban in June 2012 after an inquiry found that the spinner had pressurised Westfield into bowling no-balls in a County Champiosnhip spot-fixing scandal.
The actual incident occurred in a domestic one-day match in 2009 and for his part in the crime, Westfield was given a four-month jail sentence for corruption and banned from English cricket for five years and all cricket for three.
However, the now 32-year-old Kaneria announced last week that he would be appealing against his ban, as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) followed the ECB’s lead in also banning the spin bowler from playing in their country and effectively ended his career.
The Pakistani played 61 Test matches for his country and took 261 wickets, but his playing career has been on hold for nearly 12 months now.
Westfield was only 21 at the time of the scandal and it was believed that Kaneria had preyed on the young cricketer’s vulnerability.
After receiving his ban the Romford-born bowler severed all ties with the ECB, but has been given a summons to attend the Pakistani’s hearing.
Westfield has been told that if he fails to turn up he will be in contempt of court and could face further legal action.
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