Danish Kaneria
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
Treated unfairly because of religion?
Shoaib Akhtar’s account
Dec 26, 2019 The Times of India
KARACHI/NEW DELHI: Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar has claimed that his teammate Danish Kaneria faced discrimination at the hands of a few Pakistani cricketers, who were reluctant to even eat with him because he is a Hindu. Kaneria supported Akhtar's claim.
Kaneria, only the second Hindu to play for Pakistan after his maternal uncle Anil Dalpat, took 261 wickets in 61 Tests at an average of 34.79. He also played 18 ODIs. Akhtar made the revelation during a show 'Game on Hai' aired on PTV Sports.
"In my career I fought with two three (in the team) when they started talking on regionalism. Things like 'who is from Karachi, Punjab or Peshawar', that used to infuriate. So what if someone is a Hindu, he is doing well for the team.
"They used to say 'sir ye yaaha se khaana kaise le raha hain' (how is he taking food from this place)?" said the 44-year-old, who played 46 Tests and 163 ODIs.
"The same Hindu won the Test for us against England. If he is taking a bagful of wickets for Pakistan, he should play. We could not have won the series without Kaneria's effort. But not many gave him credit for that," said Akhtar.
When contacted, Kaneria supported Akhtar's claims. "Shoaib has been a legend of the game. His words are also as blunt as his bowling. When I was playing I did not have the courage to speak on these matters but after Shoaib bhai's comments, I do. He has always supported me and also Inzy bhai (Inzaman-ul-Haq), Mohammad Yusuf and Younis bhai (Younish bhai)," Kaneria told PTI over phone from Karachi.
"Those who did not support me, I will make their names public soon. Having said that, I feel fortunate and honoured that I got to play for Pakistan," added Kaneria.
Kaneria, now 39, was found guilty of spot-fixing alongside Mervyn Westfield while playing for Essex against Durham in 2009.
The leg-spinner was found to have convinced Westfield to concede 12 runs during the one-day game. Westfield was handed a four-month prison sentence and ECB banned him for five years.
Kaneria admitted to spot-fixing in 2018 after six years of denial.
B
Dec 28, 2019 The Times of India
Pakistan’s banned Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria on Friday said there were a “few players” who targetted him for being a Hindu during his time with the national team but he never felt the urge or the pressure to change his religion. The spinner, who is serving a life ban for spot-fixing, has been brought into focus after former pacer Shoaib Akhtar alleged that some Pakistani players refused to share food with him due to his faith.
Speaking to ‘Samaa’ channel on Friday, Kaneria said a few players made remarks about him behind his back. “(But) I never made an issue of it. I just ignored them because I wanted to focus on my cricket and bring victories for Pakistan,” he said. “Look I am a proud Hindu and Pakistani. I would like to make it clear here don’t try to portray our cricket fraternity in Pakistan in negative manner because there are a lot of people who have supported me and backed me regardless of my religion,” he added. When asked about former batsman Yousuf Youhana, a Christian who converted to Islam, Kaneria said he would not comment on an individual choice. “What Yousuf did was his personal decision but I never felt the need to change my religion because I believe in it and no one forced me,” he said.
Spinner seeks help from Pakistan PM Imran Khan
Karachi: Kaneria also sought help from prime minister Imran Khan and cricket administrators, saying that his life is not in “good shape”. In a statement, Kaneria he has approached many individuals in Pakistan and around the world to resolve his issues, only to receive no help whatsoever.
'Kaneria wouldn’t have played 10 years for Pak had there been bias: Miandad’
Karachi: Former captain Javed Miandad feels that Danish Kaneria couldn’t have played for Pakistan if the country had bias towards its minority Hindu community. “Pakistan has given him so much recognition and he played for 10-years in Test cricket. Would this have been possible if there was any issue over his religion,” Miandad said. Miandad noted that even when Kaneria was playing, Pakistan had the option of going for leg-spinners like Imran Tahir (who later played for South Africa), Ali Hussain Rizvi and even Mansoor Amjad but he was selected.
