Shahid Afridi 'troubled me...asked me convert to Islam': Ex-PAK spinner Danish Kaneria says 'my career was destroyed'

Shahid Afridi asked me to convert to Islam - Danish Kaneria (AFP Photos)

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria opened up on the ill-treatment and discrimination he faced in the sub-continent. The 44-year-old represented Pakistan in 61 Tests and 18 ODIs and was the country's last Hindu cricketer. Kaneria was speaking at a Congressional briefing in Washington, DC, where he shed light on the plight of minorities in Pakistan.

Kaneria boasts of an illustrious international career with his best period coming after 2004. He often made lasting impression with clinical performances across the globe, troubling even the Sri Lankan and Indian batters, who have the reputation of tackling spin much comfortably. Kaneria registered a total of 276 scalps (261 in Tests, 15 in ODIs) before corruption charges practically ended his career. The spinner is now settled in US and in fact he is only the second Hindu cricketer after Anil Dalpat to play for Pakistan.

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“We all gathered here and shared our experiences of how we were treated in Pakistan. We have faced discrimination, and today, we raised our voices against it,” Kaneria was quoted as saying as per ANI.

“I, too, have faced a lot of discrimination, and my career was destroyed. I did not receive the respect and equal value I deserved in Pakistan. Because of this discrimination, I am in the US today. We spoke to raise awareness and let the USA know how much we have suffered so that action can be taken," he added.

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Previously in 2023, Kaneria had revealed that how explosive all-rounder Shahid Afridi consistently pressurised him to convert to Islam. He had also mentioned that only Inzamam-ul-Haq was the Pakistan skipper, whom he found support from.

“I was doing well in my career and was playing county cricket too. Inzamam-ul-Haq supported me a lot and was the only captain who did so. Alongside him, Shoaib Akhtar. Shahid Afridi and many other Pakistan players troubled me a lot and didn’t eat with me. Shahid Afridi was the main person telling me to convert, and he did a lot of times. Inzamam-ul-Haq never used to talk that way,” Kaneria had told Aaj Tak during an interview.