Danish Kaneria supports Shoaib Akhtar’s statement of giving unfair treatment to the former for being a Hindu

Former Pakistani leg-spinner Dinesh Kaneria was all praise for the former speedster, Shoaib Akhtar, for his confession regarding the discrimination he faced during his playing days in the National team. Apparently, a video of Shoaib Akhtar surfaced on social media which has now gone viral all over in which the former pacer claimed that a few Pakistani players refused to eat food with Kaneria just because he was a Hindu.

In fact, Kaneria supported Shoaib’s claim over the discrimination he faced during his playing days. 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 the PTV Sports. 

“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)?”  Akhtar told PTV.

“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 me.” He added.

Hindus even at good position like national cricket team are treated badly in Pakistan then think about the poor ones.

Respect for @shoaib100mph for exposing Pakistan's Hindu hatred pic.twitter.com/IPUTngA0yO

— Amit Kumar (@AMIT_GUJJU) December 26, 2019

Dinesh has played 61 Tests for Pakistan, taking 261 wickets and has over 1000 (1024 wickets) scalps in as many as 206 First-Class matches.

“I am very thankful to Shoaib Akhtar Bhai for his remarks. Whatever he said was true. I have never said anything to him although he came for my support.” Dinesh told ANI.

“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 (Inzamam-ul-Haq), Mohammad Yusuf and Younis Bhai (Younish Bhai),” Kaneria told PTI over the phone from Karachi. 

“Those who did not support me, I will make their names public soon. Having said that, I feel fortunate and honored that I got to play for Pakistan,” added Kaneria. 

Kaneria was banned for life by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) when his name surfaced in the spot-fixing involvement alongside Mervyn Westfield while playing for Essex against Durham in 2009. The leg-spinner was found guilty of managing to convince Mervyn to concede 12 runs during the one-day match. Mervyn Westfield was handed a four-month prison sentence while he was banned for five years.