Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar has revealed that cricketer Danish Kaneria was ill-treated by teammates because he was a Hindu.
In an interview with the sports program ‘Game on Hai’, Shoaib Akhtar alleged that Danish Kaneria was discriminated against in the team based on his religion. Adding that certain elements did not want Kaneria to be part of the team because of his religion, not given due credit for his performance in the team and humiliated.
A small clip of his interview went viral on social media in which he said that ethnic and religious discrimination offended him. Akhtar asserted that he fought with two to three players over their bigoted statement against Kaneria.
https://twitter.com/ShobhaBJP/status/1210219545907982336?s=20
Danish Kaneria played for Pakistan from 2000 to 2010 and is the second Hindu cricketer to play for Pakistan after his uncle Anil Dalpat, who played as wicketkeeper in the 1980s. Kaneria was dropped from the Pakistan cricket team on the charges of spot-fixing in 2012.
Kaneria thanked Shoaib Akhtar for revealing the truth. He, however, asked people not to politicize his statements. Kaneria pleaded the legendary players and Prime Minister Imran Khan to help him get out the messy spot-fixing case.
If an international cricketer like Danish Kaneria is treated so badly for being a Hindu in Pakistan, one can only imagine the plight of ordinary non-Muslims in our Islamic neighbourhood. And if CAA gives them refuge in India, why should Muslims, Congress and Communist oppose it? https://t.co/Pgk7UDhuIg
— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) December 26, 2019
Kaneria appreciated the support received from people of Pakistan, other team players, media and cricket administration for his performances. “I gave everything possible for Pakistan as a cricketer and I am very proud of it. And in the hour of need, I am positive that the people of Pakistan will help me,” said Kaneria.
Kaneria asserted that he has remained positive in life and honestly played for the success of Pakistan.
Danish Kaneria is the fourth most wicket-taker in Test matches for Pakistan after Wasim Akram, Waqar Younus and Imran Khan.
Read more: Shoaib Akhter reprimanded Indian journalist for mocking Pakistan cricket team
The leg-spinner remorse that the spot-fixing scandal has ruined his career and that his life is not in good shape. He added that while he has contacted individuals in Pakistan and around the world to resolve his issue, he has not received any help.
But Kaneria has pledged to share the names of the players who mistreated him, stating that he was earlier afraid to speak up since he did not have the courage but Akhtar’s statement has given him confidence.
The leg-spinner, however, added that top-brass of cricketers such as Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younus Khan and Muhammad Yousuf respected him.
It is important to note that, Muhammad Yousuf, a prolific Pakistani cricketer, embraced Islam. Muhammad Yousuf was a Christian and previously played with name Yousuf Youhanna.
https://twitter.com/DilEKhushFeham/status/1210481626116952064?s=20
PM @ImranKhanPTI Look at the Nazi styled discrimination within Pak cricket alone-@DanishKaneria_ said he would take the names of those Pakistan cricketers who discriminated against him with some of them even refusing to eat with him because of his religion https://t.co/c3sty3KMRA https://t.co/czZLlJYCOt
— Tahir Aslam Gora ताहिर गोरा طاہر گورا (@TahirGora) December 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/Amermalik12/status/1210524010569773056?s=20
Meanwhile, Shoaib Akhtar’s statement has stirred a controversy on social media. His statements are being used by Indian social media users to level up the criticism on them from Pakistan on discriminatory anti-Muslim discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act. His statements are being used by BJP advocates to back CAB.
Pakistani cricketers refused to eat food with Danish Kaneria & constantly humiliated him just because he was a Hindu, says Shoaib Akhtar.
Now imagine the pain & agony suffered by "Persecuted Minorities" at the hands of Muslims in Pakistan.
Do you still support @INCIndia? Shame! pic.twitter.com/6RbU3K52Tq
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) December 26, 2019
Earlier, Shoaib Akhar caused another controversy when he accused most team members, except him, of involvement in match-fixing. Ostensibly, Shoaib Akhtar’s statements are causing havoc for Pakistan on Twitter. His statements are being exploited to defame Pakistan as an intolerant country with accusations of religious persecution of minorities in the country being slashed.