Danish Kaneria reveals he was targeted for being Hindu

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Dinesh Kaneria was the only player who had a different religion during his playing time in the Pakistan Test team. He revealed in an interview on Friday that he was targeted by some players for being Hindu. However, he was never pressurized to convert.

This statement from the former leg-spinner comes in just a day after former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhter alleged that some Pakistani players refused to even share food with him due to this faith. He also claimed that he was s treated very unfairly by his Pakistani teammates during their playing days.

Kaneria cleared everything in the recent interview and also insisted that he never made an issue of it and claims him to be a proud Hindu and Pakistani.

“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 while speaking to ‘Samaa’ channel. Kaneria said there were a few players who spoke behind his back but he got backing too.”

“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 said.

Kaneria is serving a life ban for spot-fixing. He was asked about former batsman Yousuf Youhana, a Christian who converted to Islam later during his playing career.

“What Muhammad 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 either to do it.”

The former leg-spinner also gave a reply to Shoaib Akhter’s comments and also revealed that the former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq always backed him.

“Shoaib bhai has said what he must have heard or someone must have told him but I have represented Pakistan at the highest level and I feel proud of it. When I came into cricket I always wanted to represent Pakistan at the highest level and I did that.”

“Inzamam called me a match-winner. I can say a lot of institutions supported me in my career. I always did my best on the ground to prove Inzamam right. The fact is I am proud to be a Pakistani,” he concluded.