Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria is known for making sensational news with his revelations from his time on the Pakistani cricket team. He has once again managed to hog all the limelight after he made some serious allegations against Pakistani player Shahid Afridi.
Speaking to IANS, Danish Kaneria has alleged that Shahid Afridi was a ‘liar’ and a ‘characterless’ person who mistreated him just because he was a Hindu playing for the Pakistan cricket team. In fact, Kaneria isn’t the first person to make such claims.
Earlier former Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar had also made such claims, revealing how Danish was unfairly treated in the Pakistan cricket team by a few members just because he was a Hindu. Speaking about how Afridi mistreated him, Kaneria said:
“Shoaib Akhtar was the first person to talk about my problem in public. Hats off to him for saying it (how I was mistreated in the team because of being a Hindu). However, he was later pressured by several authorities. He then stopped talking about it. But yes, it did happen to me. I was always degraded by Shahid Afridi. We used to play together for the same department, he used to keep me on the bench and didn’t let me play the one-day tournament.”
He added:
“He didn’t want me to be in the team. He was a liar, manipulator… because he’s a characterless person. However, my focus was only on cricket and I used to ignore all these tactics. Shahid Afridi was the only person who would go to other players and provoke them against me. I was performing well and he was jealous of me. I am proud that I played for Pakistan. I was grateful,”
Danish Kaneria also talked about the time when he was suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board over alleged involvement in the spot-fixing scandal. He said that he could’ve played more than 18 ODIs for Pakistan had it not been for Shahid Afridi. He said:
“Some false allegations were levelled against me (of spot-fixing). My name was joined with the person involved in the case. He was a friend of other Pakistani cricketers as well, including Afridi. But I don’t know why I was targeted. I just want to request the PCB to lift the ban so that I can do my work.”
“There are several fixers who got out of ban. I don’t know why I am not able to get that treatment. I have played for my country and I should be given a chance like others as well. Now I am not even playing any international cricket. I am not asking the PCB for any job, but please lift this ban so that I can live peacefully and do my work with respect,”
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