Why Should The Board Get Involved: PCB Distances Itself From Danish Kaneria Row
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With the Danish Kaneria row taking the cricketing world by storm, the Pakistan Cricket Board has sensationally decided to keep a safe distance from the controversy. Former Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar created a stir across India and Pakistan by claiming that Danish Kaneria was mistreated by the Pakistan players because of being a Hindu.
Danish Kaneria was only the second Hindu player after Anil Dalpat to represent Pakistan in international cricket. While speaking during a chat show, Akhtar made it clear that players belonging to minority communities were not treated well in the dressing room. In fact, he said that Kaneria’s Pakistani teammate even barred him from picking up food from the same table as others because of his faith.
After Akhtar’s statement, Danish Kaneria also stated the same, saying that his former teammate was right. The ex-leg-spinner also stated that he would expose the players in the coming days and also sought help from former Pakistan captain and current Prime Minister Imran Khan.
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PCB’s statement:
Instead of condemning the discrimination against Danish Kaneria or sympathising with Danish Kaneria, the PCB has decided to distance itself from Shoaib Akhtar’s assertion. A PCB spokesperson played down the entire episode by calling it allegations by players who are no more contracted to the board.
“Look both Akhtar and Kaneria are retired players they are not contracted to us so they can do or say what they want. It is their opinion. And they are making allegations about behaviour of some players not about the entire Pakistan cricket set-up or board,” the spokesperson said.
“Inzamam-ul-Haq, Rashid Latif, Younis Khan, Muhammad Yousuf, all these guys captained Pakistan when Kaneria was playing. They should respond to what Akhtar and Kaneria are saying. Why should the board get involved?” he questioned.
Danish Kaneria is fourth on the list of bowlers with most Test wickets for Pakistan, behind only fast bowlers Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Imran Khan. He picked up 261 wickets in 62 Tests. In 2012, he was suspended from cricket due to match-fixing allegations.
