Danish Kaneria was today banned from English and Welsh domestic cricket for life and described as “a grave danger” to the sport following his involvement in a spot-fixing plot.

The 31-year-old Pakistani was today found guilty by the England and Wales Cricket Board of “cajoling and pressurising” former Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield into accepting cash in return for trying to concede a set number of runs in an over during a Pro 40 match in 2009.

“We regard Danish Kaneria as a grave danger to the game of cricket and we must take every appropriate step to protect our game from his corrupt activities,” the ECB's disciplinary panel said in a statement.

“Accordingly, we are unanimously of the view that the only appropriate sanction in relation to both charges is one of suspension for life and that is the sanction we impose.”

Westfield, who admitted a charge of receiving a reward which could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute, has been suspended for five years.

In February Westfield was sentenced to four months in prison after admitting a spot-fixing charge at the Old Bailey.