DISGRACED ex-Essex leg spinner Danish Kaneria has failed to get a lifetime ban from cricket overturned again.

An appeal panel from the Cricket Discipline Commission upheld the decision made by the England and Wales Cricket Board in June last year.

It is the second time the former Pakistan bowler has failed to lift the ban, given to him following a spot-fixing scandal involving him and former Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield.

The 32-year-old who played 61 tests for his country was said to have cajoled and pressurised his County Ground colleague into accepting £6,000 to play poorly during a one-day match in 2009.

Speaking after the hearing in London, Kaneria, who previously appealed against the ban in April, said he feels “victimised” and called on Pakistan’s leaders for help.

He added: “Right from the outset there was no evidence against me and not even Essex Police charged me, but the ECB has been unjust towards me and it’s unacceptable.

“I appeal to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take up my case with England.”

ECB chairman Giles Clarke backed the decision made by the appeal panel before saying he wants Kaneria to admit his wrongdoings publicly.

Mr Clarke said: “It is high time Mr Kaneria came clean about his involvement in these corrupt activities and stopped misleading the Pakistan cricket fans and wider public with his empty protestations of innocence.”

The decision was also welcomed by Essex County Cricket Club, who said they are pleased the case has concluded.

Last year Westfield served half of a four-month jail term after admitting to accepting a bribe and was banned from playing cricket for five years.

However, he can play in club games from April 1 next year if he co-operates with the Professional Cricketers’ Association’s stringent anti-corruption education programme.