‘I Faced Discrimination..’: Danish Kaneria Blames Pakistan Cricket For Ruined Career

Last Updated:March 13, 2025, 09:49 IST

Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria, who is a Hindu by religion, said that he didn’t get equal values and respect in Pakistan as other cricketers.

Danish Kaneria has accused Pakistan cricket of discrimination (Picture credit: AP)

Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria said that he faced discrimination in the country and his career was destroyed, while speaking at a gathering in Pakistan to speak on the issues of the minorities in the country.

Kaneria, who is a Hindu by religion, said that he didn’t get equal values and respect in Pakistan as other cricketers.

Kaneria had taken part in the Congressional Briefing on ‘Plight of Minorities in Pakistan’ on Wednesday.

“Today, we all gathered here and expressed how we all faced discrimination and raised our voices. I also faced discrimination in Pakistan, and my career was destroyed. I did not get equal values and respect in Pakistan,” Kaneria said while speaking to ANI. 

“All the people who came here spoke against discrimination on how Pakistan treated them. So, the main aim was to spread awareness among everyone, especially the US, on how people suffer and the problems that exist in Pakistan and take action against it,” Kaneria added.

The former Pakistan cricketer played 61 Tests and is just the second Hindu to feature in the team after former wicketkeeper Anil Dalpat, who is Kaneria’s cousin.

The former Pakistan cricketer has, for most of his career, remained a controversial character. After allegations of being involved in spot-fixing, Kaneria was handed a lifetime ban by the England Cricket Board, preventing him from playing in games under their jurisdiction.

Kaneria filed an appeal against the ban, but it was rejected in July 2013. A decade back, the England Cricket Board tried to recover £250,000 (over Rs 2 crore) from him with the help of Pakistani authorities.

Kaneria played 18 ODIs and picked 15 wickets with a best haul of 3/31 against New Zealand during the Bank Alfalah Cup back in 2003.

In Tests, Kaneria’s best bowling performance in an innings was 7/77, whereas his best performance in a game was 12/94, both against Bangladesh.

Kaneria took 15 five-fors in Tests and achieved six and seven wickets in an innings on three and four occasions, respectively.

Kaneria took 10 wickets or more in a game twice, once against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He played 206 first-class games, 167 List A and 65 T20s during his career.