f Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria were to be found guilty of any wrong-doing and it led to a ban this summer, the implications for English cricket would be huge and financially disastrous. Pakistan are due to play four Test matches against England this summer – and two against Australia, at Lord's and Headingley. These two Tests have been moved to England because of the security situation in Pakistan, which has prevented any country touring there since March last year.

There is no way of knowing what the Pakistani reaction will be if Kaneria, one of their two main bowlers, is publicly accused of wrong-doing in England. Yesterday he insisted that his career was "unstained" and was "surprised" at the allegations.`