Essex deny overusing Kaneria

Essex have denied claims from the Pakistan Cricket Board that they are overusing Danish Kaneria, the legspinner, in the English county championship. Saleem Altaf, the PCB's director of cricket operations, said that he would write to Essex asking that he be bowled more sparingly.

"We want them to nurse him through the season as we have a lot of cricket coming up from November," Altaf told Reuters. Kaneria, who is in his second season with Essex, bowled 64 overs taking 8 for 157 against Northamptonshire, then set a championship record with 70 wicketless overs in an innings against Lancashire a week ago.

However, Ronnie Irani, the Essex captain, refuted allegations that Kaneria was being made the team's workhorse. "They've no need to tell us to look after him," Irani told The Telegraph. "We've done everything we possibly can for him and his family from day one and we'll continue to look after him, on and off the field. He's fit and he's keen. I wasn't going to bowl him in the last session at Old Trafford, but he wanted to. It should be down to him and how he feels - ultimately the player's interest is No 1."

Pakistan host England for three Tests and five one-day internationals in November, and take on India in three Tests and five one-day internationals early next year before proceeding to Sri Lanka and England.