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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.
ALSO READ: Players of Akhtar and Kaneria's time should respond, not us: PCB
"(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.
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12/27/2019 Was targeted but never felt need or pressure to convert: Danish Kaneria - Times of India
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.
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 targeted 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 politicise this issue or our cricket fraternity because of a few players' behaviour. I request everyone don't give it
a wrong angle."
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12/27/2019 Was targeted but never felt need or pressure to convert: Danish Kaneria - Times of India
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