By IANS,
London : Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was Wednesday cleared by the Essex police of betting charges during an English county match last season.
Kaneria and Mervyn Westfield were questioned by police over allegations that two Essex players placed bets on their Pro40 match against Durham last September.
Both the players had denied the allegations. It is, however, understood that Westfield could still be charged as his bail ends Sep 15.
“The police have cleared Danish as they didn’t find any concrete evidence to support the allegations,” Kaneria’s lawyer, Furqan Anwar was quoted as saying in the Telegraph.
Kaneria had been allowed by police to play for Essex this season until Sep 15 while they conducted their investigations into the betting allegations.
Kaneria said he would not make any comments on the case and was just relieved to be cleared of any charges.
The 29-year-old leg spinner, who has played 61 Tests and taken 261 wickets, was released by the team management after the first Test against England last month, which the hosts won by 354 runs.
Pakistan cricket was rocked by a spot-fixing scandal last month after Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif were named for deliberately bowling no-balls during the fourth Test match against England.
The International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit and Scotland are currently investigating the case.