Former Pakistan leg-spinner, Danish Kaneria’s career was marred with controversies. This time around, the leggie blamed former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi for keeping him out of the playing XI in the one-dayers.
Earlier, Kaneria condemned Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for him not being selected into the national side based on his religion.
With batting tapering off at the backend of his career, Afridi went on to become a world-class leg-spinner. However, with Afridi in the XI, Kaneria found it difficult to break into the Pakistan side due to their similar disciplines.
“Shahid Afridi had been against me since the beginning. He kept me out of the one-day side. When we used to play together for the same department, he used to keep me on the bench and didn’t let me play the one-day tournament. I only played 16 ODIs in my 10-year career as I used to get only two or three matches every year,” Kaneria told Vikrant Mehta on Sports Tak.
Looking back, Kaneria regretted pushing Essex cricketer Mervyn Westfield to concede 12 runs in an over during a one-day game against Durham.
After offering an apology for his mistake, the 39-year-old demanded PCB to lift his ban so that he can resume his career.
“At least for humanity’s sake, I ask to lift up the restrictions on me so that I could take the art of leg-spin forward. I regret it, but now I want to do something that people could remember always,” added Kaneria.
Further, the former Pakistani international opened up about not having a job and the payments due from news channels for his appearances.
“I do not have a job. I used to go on news shows earlier, but the big Pakistan news channels have not paid my dues. I can only request them to pay. Now the channels have gone against me. So, now I have started my new YouTube channel. I do not have a team as of now. My elder brother has been taking care of family and finances,” concluded Kaneria.
