Danish Kaneria blasts Pakistan cricket and former cricketers with serious accusations [Source: @TimesAlgebraIND/X.com]
Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has levelled serious allegations against Pakistan, citing religious discrimination. He urged the USA to intervene and help people like him thrive in sports.
Drama and Pakistan cricket always go hand in hand. The cricketing structure in the country is badly set up and needs immediate reforms as their cricket is touching new lows everyday.
Meanwhile, former cricketer Danish Kaneria, who was the last Hindu cricketer to play for Pakistan, has levelled serious allegations against his former team and humiliated the board on US soil.
Danish Kaneria Alleges Discrimination Against Pakistan Cricket
Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has once again spoken out about the discrimination he faced throughout his career, claiming that his religious identity played a significant role in his downfall.
Addressing a Congressional briefing in Washington, DC, Kaneria spoke about the situation of minorities in Pakistan, calling on the United States to act against religious discrimination in Pakistan.
“We all gathered here and shared our experiences of how we were treated in Pakistan. We have faced discrimination, and today, we raised our voices against it. I, too, have faced a lot of discrimination, and my career was destroyed. I did not receive the respect and equal value I deserved in Pakistan. Because of this discrimination, I am in the US today. We spoke to raise awareness and let the USA know how much we have suffered so that action can be taken,” Kaneria said.
Kaneria also alleged that former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi pressured him to convert to Islam multiple times. He revealed that several Pakistan players, including Afridi, refused to eat with him, isolating him from the team.
“I was doing well in my career and was playing county cricket too. Inzamam-ul-Haq supported me a lot and was the only captain who did so. Alongside him, Shoaib Akhtar. Shahid Afridi and many other Pakistan players troubled me a lot and didn't eat with me. Shahid Afridi was the main person telling me to convert, and he did a lot of times. Inzamam-ul-Haq never used to talk that way,” he added.
However, he acknowledged that Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shoaib Akhtar were among the few who supported him.
Kaneria Rips Into Pakistan Cricket After Bangladesh Whitewash
The Pakistan cricket team hit a new low last September after suffering a 0-2 home series defeat to Bangladesh in Test format.
Following a string of early World Cup and Asia Cup exits, as well as humiliating home series losses to England and Australia, this latest setback has left fans and experts questioning the team’s future.
Among the loudest critics is former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria, who didn’t hold back in his scathing attack on the PCB. Comparing the national side to a “mohalla team” (local club team), Kaneria slammed the board for the team’s downward spiral.