Mervyn Westfield Charged By Essex Police

Mervyn Westfield Charged By Essex Police

Mervyn Westfield

©Action Images / Paul Harding

Essex cricketer Mervyn Westfield has been charged with conspiracy to defraud after being investigated for performing deliberately poorly in a match last year.

Westfield is charged with acting dishonestly during a one-day game between Essex and Durham on 5th September 2009.

"A 22-year-old professional cricketer has been charged by Essex Police with conspriacy to defraud under common law," an Essex police statement confirmed.

"The offence relates to a cricket match played on September 5, 2009 between Essex and Durham. The man, from Chelmsford, is due to appear at City of London Magistrates' Court on September 23, 2010."

It was recently announced that Westfield would be leaving Essex at the end of the season while Pakistan international Danish Kaneria, who was also investigated on similar charges, was cleared.

A statement from the club read as follows:

"We are very saddened by the news that Mervyn has been charged by Essex Police.  We have not been privy to any of the evidence collected by the authorities which is why no action was taken against the player whilst the enquiries were ongoing. Clearly the Police now feel they have sufficient evidence to proceed.
 
"A decision was taken some weeks ago that Mervyn’s playing contract was not to be renewed with the Club for 2011.  This decision was made purely on cricketing grounds and was not influenced in any way by the ongoing inquiry.  He leaves the employment of the Club on 30th September 2010."

Four Pakistan internationals have been questioned by police after being accused of spot-fixing during the fourth Test against England at Lord's in an unrelated case.

© Cricket World 2010