notting hill
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Essex pair Danish Kaneria and Mervyn Westfield arrested in spot-fixing investigation
Both men appeared at Brentwood police station on Friday and were questioned under caution before being released on bail until Sept 15, pending further inquiries.
As neither has yet been charged with any offence, both are free to continue playing cricket until then, by which time Pakistan will have completed their Test series against England. That should allow Pakistan's selectors to at least pick Kaneria, with only a modicum of controversy hanging over him.
Nottinghamshire's Mick Newell admits Durham have title in their graspThat series needs Kaneria, though the England and Wales Cricket Board, as full signatories to the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption code, will be torn over his presence.
Now that Shane Warne is retired, he is the world's pre-eminent wrist-spinner, and unless Pakistan's selectors decide not to select him while the investigation is ongoing, he is crucial to their competitiveness in that series.
Essex police had wanted to interview Kaneria, 29, who has 58 Test caps for Pakistan, last Monday, three days after his return to England, but that was during Essex's County Championship match with Kent and the club asked if that could be deferred until yesterday. Every other Essex player, as well as the support staff, have been helping police with their inquiries.
Kaneria's performance in the match against Durham is not under scrutiny, but he is thought to have introduced Westfield, whose performance against Durham is under the microscope, to an illegal bookmaker.
Westfield, 22, has been interviewed before by police, who confiscated his mobile phone. He conceded 60 runs in seven overs in the 40-over match against Durham, with four wides and two no-balls.
While bad bowling is not proof of guilt, spot-fixing, whereby a small event in the game is fixed, such as a wide or a dropped catch, is thought to be the vehicle favoured by India's illegal bookmakers to manipulate bets, in which millions of pounds are staked on the smallest shifts within a match, to their advantage.
That way they can also involve vulnerable individuals on the margin of the team rather than the key players (needed if a result is to be fixed) - which makes it both less detectable and more cost effective.
Essex police confirmed that their investigation, which began in March this year, followed allegations received. As these allegations are thought to have come from other players, it has made for an uncomfortable dressing room this season.
The employment situation from the club's point of view is equally tricky unless guilt is proven. Yet, with both Kaneria and Westfield's contracts up for renewal at the end of this season, it may not be long before we see how their club has judged them.
Essex pair Danish Kaneria and Mervyn Westfield arrested in spot-fixing investigation - Telegraph
Both men appeared at Brentwood police station on Friday and were questioned under caution before being released on bail until Sept 15, pending further inquiries.
As neither has yet been charged with any offence, both are free to continue playing cricket until then, by which time Pakistan will have completed their Test series against England. That should allow Pakistan's selectors to at least pick Kaneria, with only a modicum of controversy hanging over him.
Nottinghamshire's Mick Newell admits Durham have title in their graspThat series needs Kaneria, though the England and Wales Cricket Board, as full signatories to the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption code, will be torn over his presence.
Now that Shane Warne is retired, he is the world's pre-eminent wrist-spinner, and unless Pakistan's selectors decide not to select him while the investigation is ongoing, he is crucial to their competitiveness in that series.
Essex police had wanted to interview Kaneria, 29, who has 58 Test caps for Pakistan, last Monday, three days after his return to England, but that was during Essex's County Championship match with Kent and the club asked if that could be deferred until yesterday. Every other Essex player, as well as the support staff, have been helping police with their inquiries.
Kaneria's performance in the match against Durham is not under scrutiny, but he is thought to have introduced Westfield, whose performance against Durham is under the microscope, to an illegal bookmaker.
Westfield, 22, has been interviewed before by police, who confiscated his mobile phone. He conceded 60 runs in seven overs in the 40-over match against Durham, with four wides and two no-balls.
While bad bowling is not proof of guilt, spot-fixing, whereby a small event in the game is fixed, such as a wide or a dropped catch, is thought to be the vehicle favoured by India's illegal bookmakers to manipulate bets, in which millions of pounds are staked on the smallest shifts within a match, to their advantage.
That way they can also involve vulnerable individuals on the margin of the team rather than the key players (needed if a result is to be fixed) - which makes it both less detectable and more cost effective.
Essex police confirmed that their investigation, which began in March this year, followed allegations received. As these allegations are thought to have come from other players, it has made for an uncomfortable dressing room this season.
The employment situation from the club's point of view is equally tricky unless guilt is proven. Yet, with both Kaneria and Westfield's contracts up for renewal at the end of this season, it may not be long before we see how their club has judged them.
Essex pair Danish Kaneria and Mervyn Westfield arrested in spot-fixing investigation - Telegraph
.. latest frm the wires.. kaneria tried to influence mre players in the essex squad and now the whole team is under scanner..
