Islamabad, Mar 13, 2025: Danish Kaneria has reiterated claims of religious discrimination during his playing career, alleging that Shahid Afridi repeatedly pressured him to convert.
Kaneria made these remarks while speaking at a congressional briefing in Washington, DC, where he joined other minorities from Pakistan to discuss their experiences.
The 44-year-old leg-spinner stated that he and others at the event shared their struggles regarding discrimination, particularly Religious in Pakistan .
He claimed that Afridi had persistently urged him to change his faith, while former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, in contrast, refrained from such conversations.
Former cricketer expressed his grievances, stating that he had faced severe discrimination, which he believed had hindered his international career.
Danish Kaneria further said that he had been denied the respect and opportunities he deserved in Pakistan, which eventually led him to move to the United States.
According to Danish Kaneria, the purpose of raising these concerns was to highlight the challenges minorities face and seek international attention.
In a previous interview with an Indian news outlet, Kaneria had praised Inzamam-ul-Haq, describing him as the only captain who had supported him throughout his career.
He mentioned that the legendary batter had backed him during his county cricket days and had been a rare figure of encouragement in his professional journey.
Shoaib Akhtar was also named as a player who stood by him, while Shahid Afridi and several others, he claimed, had ostracized him, even refusing to share meals with him.
Kaneria, a leg-spinner, had represented the national team in 61 red0ball matches, claiming 261 wickets at an economy rate of 3.07.
However, his career ended in controversy after he was found guilty of spot-fixing by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2012, resulting in a lifetime ban from the sport.
