INDIA: Danish Kaneria, a former Pakistan leggy, lambasted his ex-teammate Shahid Afridi and didn’t mince his words against him, accusing the former of abuse during his time with the Pakistan team.
Last year, Shoaib Akhtar revealed on a Pakistani TV that the Pakistan team was unjust to Kaneria because he was a Hindu. Danish Kaneria took 276 international wickets for the Men in Green in 79 matches.
Kaneria told IANS on Thursday that then-Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was against him.
“Shoaib Akhtar was the first individual to address my issue publicly.” He deserves credit for expressing it (how I was mistreated in the team because of being a Hindu).
However, he was later put under pressure by several authorities. He then abruptly stopped talking about it. But, yeah, it happened to me. Shahid Afridi was continuously putting me down. We used to play for the same department, and he would put me on the bench and not let me participate in the one-day competition.
“He did not want me to be a part of the squad.” He was a liar, a manipulator… because he lacked character. However, my attention was solely on cricket, and I used to dismiss all of these strategies. Only Shahid Afridi would go to other players and instigate them against me. I was doing well, and he was envious of me. I feel honored to have represented Pakistan. Kaneria told IANS, “I was grateful.”
If it hadn’t been for Afridi, the former cricketer believes he could have played far more than the 18 One-Day Internationals he did. The Karachi-born player also stated that he was never involved in spot-fixing.
“I was the target of some bogus accusations” (spot-fixing). My name was added to the list of suspects in the case. He was also a buddy of several Pakistani cricketers, including Shahid Afridi. But I’m not sure why I got chosen. I want to ask the PCB to lift the prohibition so that I can complete my work.
“Several fixers have gotten around the restrictions. I’m not sure why I can’t obtain that treatment. I’ve represented my nation, and I should be given the same opportunity as others. I’m not even playing international cricket anymore.”
“I’m not asking for a job from the PCB, but please withdraw this prohibition so that I may live happily and do my profession with dignity,” the 41-year-old continued.
Kaneria took 261 wickets at 34.79 in 61 Tests between 2000 and 2010. He also played 18 One-Day Internationals for Pakistan, taking 15 wickets at 45.53. He is still Pakistan’s top wicket-taker in Tests, and fourth all-time behind Wasim Akram (414), Waqar Younis (373), and Imran Khan (362).
However, his career was destroyed when the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) banned him for life from all cricket in 2012 on two accusations of spot-fixing in English County Championship pro-league matches in 2009.
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