Ex-Pakistani cricketer reveals, “I was being forced to covert by my teammates”

New Delhi: Former Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria, in his recent interview with an Indian news channel, has made some serious allegations against the Pakistani Cricket Board (PCB) and some major Pakistani players for how he was treated during his time with the Pakistani national team.

Danish Kaneria, who played 61 test matches for Pakistan, name-dropped the former Pakistani captain, Sahid Afridi, for his Hindu phobic behaviour and constantly forcing him to convert to Islam. He alleges that Sahid Afridi was leading all the discriminatory actions against him.

Danish’s comments have stirred a huge controversy in the cricketing world. However, PCB and Shahid Afridi have yet to give any response to the allegations made by Danish Kaneria.

“He used to wake me up at 5”

Danish alleged that Shahid Afridi used to wake him up at 5 a.m. by phone calls and asking him to get up as the rest of the teams were already up for namaz offerings.

Danish said he got frustrated with these constant calls and finally stood his ground by warning Afridi not to call him again ever in the morning.

He also alleged that players used to stay away from him while eating and always made him feel like an outsider in the team.

“There were few people who supported me.”

Danish said that despite all the discriminatory behaviours by other players, two players, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shoaib Akhtar, supported him and helped him to keep his focus on the game, instead of the outside noises.

“Once Inzi bhai was gone, I knew my time is over.”

अगर मैंने अपना धर्म छोड़कर इस्लाम क़ुबूल कर लिया होता तो पाकिस्तान टीम का कप्तान होता #DanishKaneria pic.twitter.com/ySDUm2ysq4

— Sudhir Chaudhary (@sudhirchaudhary) October 25, 2023

Danish said that he played a long career under Inzaman-ul-Haq’s captaincy, and he was the most supportive person for him in the team. He said that he knew, once Inzi bhai was gone, they would do everything in their power to kick me out of the team.

Would’ve enjoyed a long career, if I had converted

Upon being asked whether he believed that his career would’ve been longer if he had chosen to convert, Danish replied, “Maybe, but surely wouldn’t have the issues I have right now in my life.”

Never compromise when it comes to Dharma! https://t.co/PfioXpNcM5

— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) October 25, 2023

But, he also said that despite all the issues, he would’ve never converted as he is a proud Hindu and will not do whatever in his power to support Sanatan Dharma.

Request to PM Modi

Danish, during his interview, requested BCCI and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help him in getting his ban lifted as he is innocent and the ban was not from ICC but from ECB, and it shouldn’t have stood this long.

The situation of the current Pakistani team

According to Danish Kaneria, the current Pakistani team is made up of contacts and approach, and they are not capable of handling the pressure, which is now over them and believe that they won’t be able to even qualify for the semifinals, let alone winning the tournament.