Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has admitted his guilt in a spot-fixing scandal after six years of denying any wrongdoing.

Kaneria was banned for life by the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2012, having been found guilty of corruption in relation to the case involving his Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield.

Westfield was jailed after pleading guilty to the charge of accepting or obtaining corrupt payments from bookmaker Anu Bhatt for conceding a set number of runs in an over during a match against Durham in 2009.

Kaneria repeatedly denied any involvement and lodged appeals against his ban, but Pakistan's most successful Test spinner has come clean in an interview with Al Jazeera.

The 37-year-old said: "My name is Danish Kaneria and I admit that I was guilty of the two charges brought against me by the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2012.

"I have become strong enough to make this decision because you cannot live a life with lies."

Kaneria, who introduced Westfield to Bhatt, added: "Mervyn used to tell me that he wants to become a rich cricketer.

"I was highly paid in Essex and I was an international player at that time. I was living a very lavish life, so he also wanted to make money.

"I want to apologise to Mervyn Westfield, my Essex team-mates, Essex cricket club and the fans … to Pakistan and my fans around the world. And to my wife and family - I have let them all down.

"I was the highest wicket-taker for Pakistan at that time. I was making good money all around the world. It's been six years. I lost my friends … respect from the fans. I lost everything."