Kaneria questions World Cup exclusion

Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan legspinner, has said he will seek clarification from the PCB on the reasons for his continued exclusion from the national squad. Kaneria was not included in the 30 probables for the 2010-11 World Cup. He had also been overlooked for Pakistan's Test squad for their on-going tour of New Zealand.

Kaneria was one of three players - the other two being Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik - who were asked to appear before the PCB's inquiry committee in order to gain clearance to play for Pakistan. The players had to submit details of their bank accounts, assets and property holdings from the last three years to the committee. Pakistan had delayed the announcement of their 30-man World Cup squad till January 5 in order to complete their investigations of the three, but only Kamran was included in the preliminary list for the tournament.

"I have asked my barrister Steve Haurigan to talk to the PCB and clear up this problem and the damage to my name," Kaneria told AFP. "He is in Karachi and has requested a meeting and is waiting for a reply from the PCB."

After a meeting with the board's integrity committee on December 15, which he at the time described as "fruitful and positive", Kaneria had said he was confident of returning to the national squad and was providing the board with whatever details they required.

He stuck to his stance after being left out of the World Cup probables. "I fully cooperated with the PCB and submitted all the documents they wanted from me," he said. "I am disappointed to be left out as I was also overlooked for the series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates in October-November last year as well as the New Zealand tour."

Kaneria was actually in the original squad to play two Tests against South Africa in the UAE, but was told moments before he was about to leave for the airport that he hadn't been cleared to play. The reason for his exclusion from the World Cup probables is not clear. "There is a lot of speculation in the media regarding clearance or otherwise of players by the integrity committee of the PCB," Pakistan's chief selector Mohsin Khan said. "The integrity committee has given its views on some players to the selection committee which has taken into consideration that input and has selected the 30 players for the World Cup."

The last ODI Kaneria played for Pakistan was in March 2007, so his exclusion from the World Cup could be because the selectors don't see him as a limited-overs bowler. He was playing Tests for Pakistan, though, up until their controversial tour of England in July-August. Kaneria was the subject of a criminal investigation in August by Essex police over allegations that he was involved in spot-fixing during a county game. He was released without charge in September.

Essex have not retained Kaneria for the 2011 season, but he says that is down only to financial reasons. "I have played my cricket clean," he said. "After being cleared by police in England, Essex sent me a letter saying that because of the financial crunch they did not want my services after 2010."

Kaneria has taken 261 wickets in 61 Tests - the most by any Pakistan spinner in tests. He has been performing well in domestic cricket, having taken 38 wickets in eight matches in Division One of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.