Why the inconsistency in punishment?
Mike Selvey, in the Guardian , questions the lack of consistency in the penalties handed down to Salman Butt and Danish Kaneria
Siddhartha Talya
25-Feb-2013
Mike Selvey, in the Guardian, questions the lack of consistency in the penalties handed down to Salman Butt and Danish Kaneria. Butt was convicted and sent to prison, but still has a chance of resuming his cricket career after serving his ban. Kaneria - not convicted of any offence in court - was given a life ban by the ECB and the door for a possible return to cricket remains shut.
None of this means that the inequity, in terms of Kaneria, is wrong but rather it is the relative leniency bestowed on Butt that is at odds with the seriousness of his misdemeanour. Despite warnings Kaneria kept the worst of company and at the very least was the cynical ringmaster of a circus intent on maintaining immense corruption within the game.
Siddhartha Talya is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo