Danish Kaneria, a former Pakistani spinner, claims that while he played for the national team, he was singled out because of his religious convictions. After Anil Dalpat, Kaneria is the second Hindu to play for Pakistan.
From 2000 to 2010, he participated in 61 Tests and 18 ODIs for Pakistan, capturing 261 and 15 wickets, respectively.
Kaneria is the nephew of wicketkeeper Anil Dalpat, the first Hindu to represent Pakistan in international cricket. To illustrate his argument about religious persecution, he posted a video of a Pakistan-Sri Lanka game from 2014.
Danish Kaneria claimed he encounters such suggestions practically every day in the subtitles of the video.
This Happened To Me Every Day: Danish Kaneria Shows Proof How He Was Religious Discriminated Against In Pakistan Team Because He Was A Hindu
In the video, Pakistan’s Ahmed Shehzad is seen elaborating on the advantages of Islam to Tillakaratne Dilshan. Dilshan, whose real name was Tuwan Mohammad Dilshan, was incidentally born into a Muslim family. However, he changed his religion to Buddhism and adopted the name Tillakaratne Dilshan.
Ahmed is heard telling Dilshan that he would go “straight to heaven” if he converted to Islam: “If you non-Muslim and you turn Muslim, no matter whatever you do in life… straight to heaven.” A smiling Dilshan says something, and is met with the response: “Then be ready for the fire.”
Be it the dressing room, the playground or the dining table, this happened to me every day. pic.twitter.com/vdv5NpBKxq
— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) October 15, 2023
Ahmed is heard telling Dilshan that he would go “straight to heaven” if he converted to Islam: “If you non-Muslim and you turn Muslim, no matter whatever you do in life… straight to heaven.” A smiling Dilshan says something, and is met with the response: “Then be ready for the fire.”
Performing Namaz in front of Kafir Hindus was more important than the match. That’s the problem!
pic.twitter.com/MxjsetUuPv— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) October 15, 2023
This was seemingly Kaneria taking a dig at Pakistan’s already-gaping wound after Babar Azam’s team went down meekly to India on Saturday in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023.