Was targetted but never felt need or pressure to convert: Danish Kaneria

Pakistan's banned Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria on Friday said there were a "few players" who targetted him for being a Hindu during his time with the national team but he never felt the urge or the pressure to change his religion. The spinner, who is serving a life ban for spot-fixing, has been brought into focus after former pacer Shoaib Akhtar alleged that some Pakistani players refused to even share food with him due to his faith.

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Speaking to a channel on Friday, Kaneria said a few players made remarks about him behind his back.

'I never made an issue of it': Danish Kaneria

"(But) I never made an issue of it. I just ignored them because I wanted to focus on my cricket and bring victories for Pakistan," he said.

"Look I am a proud Hindu and Pakistani. I would like to make it clear here don't try to portray our cricket fraternity in Pakistan in a negative manner because there are a lot of people who have supported me and backed me regardless of my religion," he added.

When asked about former batsman Yousuf Youhana, a Christian who converted to Islam, Kaneria said he would not comment on an individual choice."What Muhammad Yousuf did was his personal decision but I never felt the need to change my religion because I believe in it and no one forced me either to do it," he said.

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Danish Kaneria on Shoaib Akhtar's comments

When pressed on Akhtar's comments, Kaneria chose to side-step a day after acknowledging the discrimination and threatening to come out with names.

"Shoaib Bhai has said what he must have heard or someone must have told him but I have represented Pakistan at the highest level and I feel proud of it. When I came into cricket I always wanted to represent Pakistan at the highest level and I did that," he said.

The leg-spinner, who played 61 Tests for Pakistan, made it clear that former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq always supported him."Inzamam called me a match-winner. I can say a lot of institutions supported me in my career. I always did my best on the ground to prove Inzamam right. The fact is I am proud to be a Pakistani," he said.

Pressed to name those few players who he felt targetted him, Kaneria said he would reveal their names later on his YouTube channel."The time is not right and I will use my channel to talk about it."Asked to recall any incident where players refused to eat with him, Kaneria said, "Pakistan is my janamBhumi and I don't think anyone should politicize this issue or our cricket fraternity because of a few players' behaviors. I request everyone don't give it a wrong angle.

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