Kaneria anxious for Westfield to be at appeal hearing

Pakistan's Danish Kaneria balances a bat on his fingers during a practice session in Colombo July 18, 2009.

KARACHI (Reuters) - Lawyers for banned cricketer Danish Kaneria will challenge the absence of witness Mervyn Westfield if he does not appear for an appeal hearing on Monday, the Pakistan player said on Sunday.

Kaneria told Reuters from London that his legal team had been told that his former Essex team mate Westfield would not attend the hearing in the British capital.

"We are surprised at this development and will challenge his absence when the hearing proceedings begin," said Kaneria, who was banned for life by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in June for corruption.

Kaneria will appeal against the ban this week after being branded a "grave danger" to the game by the ECB who found him guilty of encouraging or attempting to encourage Westfield to underperform in a match in 2009.

The Pakistani leg-spinner, who has been suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) pending the outcome of the appeal hearing, said he wanted Westfield to appear before the five-man ECB panel.

"He has accused me of corrupting him and my legal team wants to question him again as his testimony played a big role in my ban," said Kaneria, who has taken 261 test wickets.

(Editing by Clare Fallon)