Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria believes only the BCCI can save his career and life, as he is down to his last savings. Kaneria claimed that he is innocent and he is serving a life ban from cricket for nothing.
Kaneria was handed the ban after he was found guilty of spot-fixing while playing for English County side Essex. He has appealed three times against the ban, only to be turned down every time.
"Only BCCI can save me. Anurag Thakur [the board's secretary] should consider my case and urge Shashank Manohar [the board's president] to speak to the ICC. Lift the ban, help me get a honourable exit. It will save me, my life, and whatever cricket is left in me," Cricketcountry quoted Kaneria as saying to Mid-Day.
"I am living on my last savings. I do not know how long I will survive. I can even teach young Indians the art of spin, can't I? Why can't they call me? I am one of them. Everything else has dried up for me in Pakistan, I seem to have no takers for my appeals from the PCB. I am dying."
Kaneria compared his case with Mohammed Amir, who was also found guilty of spot-fixing. However, as the fast bowler admitted his guilt, he was given a second chance by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
"The Scotland Yard found no evidence on me, the ECB reacted on the basis of confessions made by one cricketer. Look at the way PCB has handled Mohammad Amir's case. What about me? Isn't that unfair?" Kaneria added.
"It is because I am a Hindu, a minority in Pakistan. It is because I refused to admit my involvement in spot fixing when the ECB charged me. I want to be heard, is it very difficult to hear me out?"
