Ban on Kaneria over match-fixing could be financially disastrous for England - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

If Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, who is under the scanner for match-fixing charges and being quizzed by the Essex Police on the issue, is found guilty of the match-fixing charges and banned this summer, the implications for English cricket would be financially disastrous. Pakistan is scheduled to play two Test series in England, after they were moved from Pakistan due to security concerns in the country. Pakistan will play four Tests against England and two against Australia. Relations between the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have been cordial since the forfeited Oval Test of 2006, but speculations are rife over the implications if Kaneria is publicly accused of wrong-doing in England, The News reports. Moreover, it's the broadcasting deals in which the ECB will lose millions of dollars if the series are cancelled. One of the broadcasting deals for the rights to screen cricket matches played and televised in England (except for ICC events, like last summer's Twenty20 World Cup) is a four-year deal with ESPN Star worth 80 million dollars. Kaneria's involvement would add to the PCB's humiliation, which has already slapped hefty fines and imposed bans on seven top cricketers on various accounts of indiscipline and violation of the players' code of conduct. Meanwhile, Kaneria has rubbished the allegations, and said: "My cricketing career is completely unstained and I'm surprised at such allegations." He is reportedly under police investigation over a NatWest Pro40 match between Essex and Durham at the Riverside on September 5 last year.