Danish Kaneria, a former Pakistani Hindu cricketer, spoke about discrimination at a Congressional briefing, detailing how it damaged his career and led him to the U.S. He mentioned pressures to convert to Islam from colleague Shahid Afridi and indicated the need for major awareness about the issues faced by minorities in Pakistan.

Danish Kaneria, a former Pakistani cricketer, highlighted the discrimination faced by minorities in Pakistan during a Congressional briefing in Washington. He stated that he has long experienced disrespect and inequality that ultimately harmed his cricketing career. Kaneria emphasized the need to raise awareness in the U.S. regarding the suffering of minorities, indicating that this was a contributing factor to his move to the United States.

Kaneria, who participated in 61 Test matches for Pakistan, is the second Hindu to represent the national cricket team. He recounted instances where he felt pressured by cricketer Shahid Afridi to convert to Islam. “I was doing well in my career and was playing county cricket too,” he said, acknowledging the support he received from players like Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shoaib Akhtar, who treated him better than others.

He expressed frustration over how he was snubbed by several of his teammates. While he received support from Inzamam-ul-Haq, Kaneria noted that other players often excluded him from their social circles and urged him to convert. He remarked, “Shahid Afridi was the main person telling me to convert, and he did a lot of times.”

Danish Kaneria’s testimony sheds light on the discrimination faced by minorities in Pakistan, emphasizing his struggles within the cricket community. His experiences underline the ramifications of societal prejudice on professional aspirations and the need for greater awareness and action concerning minority rights in Pakistan.

Original Source: www.news18.com