Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has unwittingly admitted to the atrocities and systematic persecution of Hindus in Pakistan. His admission comes in the wake of his statements about the way the lone Hindu Cricketer Danish Kaneria was ill-treated within the Pakistan national team.
Speaking on a popular chat show, Shoaib Akhtar confirmed that former leg spinner Danish Kaneria was looked down upon as a player only because he belonged to a different religion. He is quoted saying, “I get angry if someone is seen as inferior based on his location or religion. There is nothing wrong with a Hindu born in Pakistan representing the country.”
DanishKaneria was a prominent spinner in the Pakistan team in the 2000’s and had won his country many one-day’s and Test matches. Despite his feats, he was looked down upon and not many chances were given as he was not a Muslim. Though these allegations were made earlier, the confirmation from Akhtar has only reaffirmed the charges.
Akhtar says on the show, “He won us a Test series against England in 2005. However, I felt bad for him given the way he was treated by his teammates and looked down upon for being a Hindu”. He then says that other Muslim players refused to sit and dine with him. The treatment meted out to Danish Kaneria is a mirror to the systematic persecution faced by Hindus in the Islamic State of Pakistan.
As the video of the chat show went viral, Kaneria also confirmed the charges made by Akhtar. Kaneria said that Akhtar had said the truth and he would reveal the names of the players who ill-treated him soon. Kaneria is one of the few Hindus who has played for Pakistan. He played 61 Tests and 18 ODIs. The International Cricket Association had banned him from cricket for spot-fixing, a charge that was not strongly contested by Pakistan Cricket Board.
