LONDON, England (AP) — Former Pakistan legspinner Danish Kaneria lost his appeal against a lifetime ban by the England and Wales Cricket Board for his role in a corruption scandal, ruining his hopes of a return to international cricket.

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. Pakistan Cricket Board reacted by also suspending him until the case was resolved.

The ECB released a statement Friday saying an appeals panel of the Cricket Discipline Commission dismissed Kaneria’s request following a week-long hearing.

The appeal of Westfield, who served two months of a four-month jail sentence for deliberately conceding a set number of runs in an over, will be heard at a later date. He is midway through a five-year ban issued by the ECB.

The 32-year-old Kaneria had been an integral part of Pakistan’s Test team, taking 261 wickets in 61 matches.

During a criminal trial, Westfield named Kaneria as the person who pressured him into accepting £6,000 (US$9,400) from a bookmaker to underperform in a Pro40 match in 2009.

Kaneria’s appeal hearing was due to take place last December, but was postponed because Westfield did not attend.