Pakistan spinner appeals life ban

Pakistan's Danish Kaneria ... hopes to revive his international career. Source: ANDREW YATES / News Limited

Former Pakistan legspinner Danish Kaneria hopes to revive his international career following an appeal of his life ban before a disciplinary committee of the England and Wales Cricket Board next week.

Kaneria was banned by the ECB last year for pressuring former Essex teammate Mervyn Westfield into spot-fixing in an English county one-day game in 2009.

Kaneria left on Tuesday for London, where the hearing will be held next Monday.

"I have high hopes the panel will be independent and neutral in this hearing," Kaneria told The Associated Press by telephone from the southern port city of Karachi. 

"My livelihood is stuck due to the ECB's ban."

The hearing was deferred last December when the ECB was unable to gain Westfield's cooperation to appear before the committee.

Westfield, who pleaded guilty to receiving payment which could bring him or the game into disrepute, was banned for five years, but allowed to participate in minor club cricket after three years.

Westfield's admission of guilt and his evidence against Kaneria led the ECB to reduce a possible suspension of nine years to five, and allow him to be involved only in club cricket after three years of his ban.

Kaneria expects Westfield to testify in his favour.

"I hope things will be seen more clearly by the disciplinary committee in the presence of Westfield," he said.

He played for Pakistan from 2000 to 2010, when he was suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board until the spot-fixing case was resolved. An integral part of Pakistan's test team, he took 261 wickets in 61 matches.

Kaneria's determination to clear his name included an appeal to the Sindh High Court in Karachi to try to overturn his PCB suspension. But the court dismissed his appeal in 2011, saying it was not within its jurisdiction.

Pakistan cricket has been hit badly by spot-fixing and match-fixing over the last three years.

Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir are serving long bans for their involvement in spot-fixing during a Test against England in 2010, while last week the PCB banned umpire Nadeem Ghauri for four years for corruption.

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I answered truthfully: Hird

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Relief ... James Hird celebrates Essendon's win over Fremantle. Source: Alex Coppel / News Limited

Essendon coach James Hird has released a statement after meeting with ASADA officials on Tuesday, saying he fully co-operated and truthfully answered every question.

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In a statement released on Tuesday night, Hird said:

"Today I attended an interview with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority and the AFL Integrity Officers.

"At the interview I fully co-operated and truthfully answered every question that was put to me by the investigators.

"I will not do anything to impede the ASADA and AFL investigation and will continue to co-operate fully.

"This includes maintaining the confidentiality of the interview. This is incumbent upon all parties present at the ASADA and AFL investigation so as to not pollute the process.

"I welcomed the opportunity to tell the truth today."

Earlier, Hird left his Toorak home on Tuesday morning, dressed in a suit and Bombers tie, saying he was looking forward to meeting ASADA officers.

"I'm just looking forward to having my say," he said.

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Asked if he was confident he could clear his name, Hird said: "Yes mate."

Hird will not be under oath when he faces drugs investigators for the first time.

But he nevertheless would face tough penalties if found not to have told the truth.

ASADA officers are probing claims that players received banned intravenous injections - one of several concerns raised about the club's sports science regimen last year.

Sports scientist Stephen Dank has said that during his time at Essendon he injected Hird with the performance-enhancing drug Hexarelin, which is banned for players.

The AFL Anti-Doping Code demands players and coaches must:

FULLY co-operate with any investigation.

FULLY and truthfully answer all questions.

PROVIDE documents if requested.

Players and coaches who fail to do this face a minimum $10,000 fine. If a breach of this section is referred to the AFL Tribunal by the league, there is no limit on the sanction that can be applied.

The code prohibits coaches from supplying and administering performance-enhancing drugs, but not from taking them.

The AFL can sanction anyone it believes has brought the game into disrepute.

Evidence gathered by ASADA would ultimately come before the AFL Tribunal if the agency found players or officials had a case to answer.

Former ASADA chief Richard Ings said: "In the infraction notice (from the AFL), it will say ASADA has told the AFL that you have a case to answer for breaching these provisions of the anti-doping rules; the penalty for this breach is a ban, or whatever -- two years, say; you have an opportunity now to either accept the ban, or to request a hearing before the AFL anti-doping panel.

"The hearing, the tribunal, is held by the AFL.

"ASADA would be the counsel prosecuting the case, because they've got the evidence, and the player and his attorney would be the defence."

Hird was expected to be accompanied by a lawyer, or lawyers,  on Tuesday.

Under common ASADA practices:

THE interview would be conducted by two ASADA officials.

AN investigator from the AFL's integrity office could attend and ask questions.

THE interview would be recorded.

Hird is not bound by privacy laws and can share anything from the interview.

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'His footwork should be applauded'

Kevin Proctor ... an unsung hero for Melbourne against South Sydney. Source: FOX SPORTS

Former St George Illawarra superstar Mark Gasnier looks back on the sixth round of NRL action in 2013 and singles out his player of the week to be awarded The Gaz Man.

And the award, for his starring role in the Storm's big win over South Sydney, goes to...

KEVIN PROCTOR

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This guy's another of those unsung heroes for the Storm who really helps to make the whole machine operate as well as it does. 

Against the Rabbitohs Proctor stepped up to start in place of Tohu Harris and they had a gameplan to target John Sutton in defence. 

Sutton's a great tackler but his decision making can be questionable at times. 

I don't think they could have executed that gameplan without Kevin Proctor. 

His ability to use footwork to get inside Sutton's inside shoulder should be applauded.

A lot of teams try to run inside John Sutton with the fullback sweeping out the back to create that three on two but the whole idea of running that decoy play is to open up the edges.

I think Kevin Proctor has the ability.

He is such an athletic backrower that he was able to make Sutton really think about what he was going to do. 

He broke the line once and Sutton only just held onto him to save a try before breaking them again where he palmed off Greg Inglis for a try. 

There was also another time where he half went through and offloaded it for a half line-break. 

It's hard to argue that the Storm-Rabbitohs match was the highest quality match of the round, if not the season, and without Kevin Proctor's influence the Storm may not have run away with it. 

He really stood out against a great pack of forwards. 

I wouldn't say Melbourne's forward pack dominated Souths but I thought their edge backrowers really outshone their Rabbitohs opposites. 

That was the difference to how each team rolled up the field and questioned the decision making of the outside backs. 

Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk deserve every accolade that they get but if they don't have guys like Proctor with the ability to hold the opposition up so Slater can get out the back and take advantage of three on twos, he wouldn't be scoring near as many tries as he does. 

If there was no Proctor, Sutton wouldn't be as worried about what the inside man's going to do and the overlaps wouldn't be created. 

I also thought he did a lot of hard graft. 

Yes, he did the glamorous stuff out on the edges but he also did a lot of hard work - hit-ups coming off his own try-line second and third play, and worked hard defensively. 

What an option to start Kevin Proctor instead of Tohu Harris! 

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NRL fan stuck in mud for 30 hours

Albert Kelly ... celebtrates scoring the match winning try. Source: CHARLES KNIGHT / AAP

A Titans fan was rescued on Tuesday morning after spending more than 30 hours stuck in a swamp at Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast.

Police were called to swampland at the southern end of Railway Street at 2.45am today after local residents heard a man calling for help, the Gold Coast Bulletin reports.

The 41-year-old man said he got stuck after he tried to take a shortcut on Sunday night after leaving the Titans game against Parramatta at Skilled Park, Robina.

"When police arrived they searched the area using a spotlight and located a 41-year -old man in the middle of a swamp area, some distance away from the road,'' police said.

"He had sunk into the watercourse and was unable to free himself."

It is believed no one noticed he was missing yesterday or saw him waving his hands for help.

Rescuers this morning waded into the swampland and used ropes to help pull the man to safety before carrying him to dry land.

He was taken to Robina Hospital and treated for climate exposure and cuts.

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Beale itching to return says Folau

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Australian Wallabies' ... fly half Kurtley Beale waiting to return from suspension. Source: JUAN MABROMATA / AFP

Israel Folau says troubled Melbourne Rebels star Kurtley Beale is ready and 'itching' to make his return to the football field.

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Beale, 24, has reportedly sought counselling following an alcohol-fuelled altercation with Wallabies teammate Cooper Vuna in South Africa three weeks ago.

Folau said on Wednesday night that he had been in contact with Beale who had been stood down to deal with his demons.

"He's been great," Folau told The Back Page.

"The time off helped him a lot. Speaking to him, he's itching to get back on the field and play.

"No one knows what time that will be but when he comes back to play he will be ready."

Beale is rumoured to make his return in round 11 against the heavyweight Crusaders in Christchurch.

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Fair or Unfair: 2013 Brown's last?

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Courage ... Jonathan Brown may not go around again in 2014. Source: Darren England / News Limited

Brisbane Lions captain Jonathan Brown has been one of the AFL's leading centre-half forwards for more than a decade but has his time come?

Is 2013 Jonathan Brown's last season?

Being one of the most courageous players in the history of the game has taken its toll on Brown and his slow start to the season had many people thinking 2013 might be his last.

However, you should never write off a legend and Brown returned to form on Saturday night against Gold Coast Suns with five goals and the Marcus Ashcroft Medal as best afield in the QClash.

There is no doubt the Lions still need his presence in the forward line but after 233 games and 551 goals how long can Brown be expected to carry to load?

The Warrnambool product has been unlucky with injury in recent seasons but if given a free run could still be a dominant power forward.

On Tuesday night's episode of AFL 360, Gerard Whately and Mark Robinson described the call for Brown to retire as "bewildering".

"It strikes me that we collectively are desperate to retire players," Whately said.

"We're desperate to retire Nick Riewoldt ... the game will be so much poorer when Nick Riewoldt calls it a day.

"We're desperate to retire Johnathan Brown.

"Why are we pushing them all out the door?"

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