Disgraced fast bowler Mervyn Westfield has criticised the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for taking a “hostile route” against him and giving him a Hobson’s choice of either attending the appeal hearing of Pakistani leg-spinner Danish Kaneria or facing arrest.
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The hearing was earlier set for December but was put off after Westfield refused to appear before the committee (Photo: AFP)[/caption]
The case began on Monday at the London Court of International Arbitration and is due to last until Thursday. Kaneria is hoping to overturn his ban imposed by the ECB.
The ECB banned Kaneria, 32, last year from all cricket worldwide after he was found guilty of pressuring former Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield into spot-fixing during a one-day match in 2009.
The hearing was earlier set for December but was put off after Westfield refused to appear before the committee.
Now, the 24-year-old Westfield said he was still not willing to attend the hearing, but reluctantly agreed after he was forced to do so.
“I have made it abundantly clear to the ECB that I have no desire to participate in this hearing or to provide any further evidence to that which I had previously done in June 2012,” he said in a statement.
“The ECB has this time decided to take the hostile route in seeking the help of a High Court judge, who has signed a court summons in order to secure my attendance.
“As I understand, by not attending today, the ECB would return to the High Court and a warrant for my arrest would be requested.”
Westfield, who was arrested in 2010, was prosecuted and found guilty of taking 6,000 pounds through a bookie, introduced by Kaneria, to underperform in the match.
The former Essex pacer was banned after he pleaded guilty to receiving payment. However, because of his admission of guilt and the evidence he provided against Kaneria, the ECB reduced a possible ban of nine years to five. He was also allowed to play club cricket after three years.
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The hearing was earlier set for December but was put off after Westfield refused to appear before the committee (Photo: AFP)[/caption]The case began on Monday at the London Court of International Arbitration and is due to last until Thursday. Kaneria is hoping to overturn his ban imposed by the ECB.
The ECB banned Kaneria, 32, last year from all cricket worldwide after he was found guilty of pressuring former Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield into spot-fixing during a one-day match in 2009.
The hearing was earlier set for December but was put off after Westfield refused to appear before the committee.
Now, the 24-year-old Westfield said he was still not willing to attend the hearing, but reluctantly agreed after he was forced to do so.
“I have made it abundantly clear to the ECB that I have no desire to participate in this hearing or to provide any further evidence to that which I had previously done in June 2012,” he said in a statement.
“The ECB has this time decided to take the hostile route in seeking the help of a High Court judge, who has signed a court summons in order to secure my attendance.
“As I understand, by not attending today, the ECB would return to the High Court and a warrant for my arrest would be requested.”
Westfield, who was arrested in 2010, was prosecuted and found guilty of taking 6,000 pounds through a bookie, introduced by Kaneria, to underperform in the match.
The former Essex pacer was banned after he pleaded guilty to receiving payment. However, because of his admission of guilt and the evidence he provided against Kaneria, the ECB reduced a possible ban of nine years to five. He was also allowed to play club cricket after three years.
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