Pakistan Cricket Board not to show leniency to corrupt players

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria's life ban seems to have shut the door on other tainted Pakistani players who are eying a return to the game after the PCB has decided no to show leniency to any player found guilty of corruption.

Kaneria has been banned for life by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for his involvement in spot-fixing in country matches.

And the latest development has forced the PCB to act tough against those found guilty of indulging in malpractices.

Last year, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir had also been jailed after being found guilty of involving in corruption and cheating by a Crown Court in London.

"The question before us now is whether these players have any remorse or regret over how they have damaged the image of Pakistan cricket and sadly so far the answer is in the negative," a senior PCB official told PTI.

He said while the board had hired a sports psychologist to counsel and reform 19-year-old Amir as part of his rehabilitation program, the pacer is unlikely to get a chance to redeem his international career after the Kaneria episode.

"The sad part is even Amir appears to have no remorse or regrets. In his meeting with PCB Chairman his attitude was laid back," the official said.

Interestingly Kaneria, Butt and Asif have claimed innocence while Amir claims that he was deliberately tricked into bowling no-balls in the fourth Test against England at Lords on the 2010 tour by former skipper Butt and agent Mazhar Majeed.

When contacted chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed also did not see any chances of Kaneria being allowed to resume his career in Pakistan.

"We still have to look at some legal and technical formalities. But the way things stand it is highly unlikely Kaneria will be allowed to play in Pakistan now," Ahmed said.

"The thing is all of these players claim innocence and yet show no remorse," he said.

Kaneria was banned for life from English cricket by the ECB disciplinary panel and also fined 100,000 pounds this month after being found guilty of corruption and fixing while playing for Essex in the English county championship.

Kaneria, who has played 61 Tests for Pakistan, has pleaded innocence and vowed to appeal against his life ban.