Former Pakistan cricket star Danish Kaneria has spoken out to quell rumors about him seeking Indian citizenship, firmly stating that he currently resides in the USA with his family and has no immediate plans to move to India.
Kaneria, a Hindu by faith, emphasized his pride in being a Pakistani citizen. He acknowledged the discrimination he faced throughout his career, including immense pressure to convert his religion. He addressed speculation head-on, clarifying that his frequent positive remarks about India’s internal affairs are not a veiled attempt to gain Indian citizenship.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Kaneria candidly shared his struggles with discrimination from Pakistani authorities and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), highlighting instances of religious conversion pressure.
He wrote, “Lately, many people have been questioning me, asking why I don’t speak about Pakistan or why I comment on Bharat’s internal matters. Some even allege that I do all this to gain Indian citizenship. I believe it’s crucial to set the record straight.”
“While I have received a great deal of love from the people of Pakistan, I also endured profound discrimination from Pakistani authorities and the PCB, including attempts to force me to change my religion,” he revealed.
Regarding India and its citizenship, Kaneria made his position unequivocally clear: “Pakistan may be my Janmabhoomi (birthplace), but Bharat, the land of my ancestors, is my Matrubhumi (motherland). For me, India is sacred, like a temple. At present, I have no intentions of seeking Indian citizenship. However, should someone like me choose to do so in the future, the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) is already in place to facilitate such a decision.”
He added, “To those concerned for my safety, with the blessings of Prabhu Shri Ram, I am safe and happy with my family. My destiny lies in the hands of Lord Ram.”
The 44-year-old cricketer has pledged to continue calling out those he identifies as “anti-nationals” and “pseudo-secularists,” who he believes are undermining societal values and sowing discord.
Kaneria’s illustrious cricket career spanned from 2000 to 2010, during which he served as a right-arm leg spinner for Pakistan in 61 Test matches and 18 One Day Internationals.
His career was tragically cut short by a lifetime ban imposed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for his involvement in a spot-fixing scandal, which effectively barred him from playing any matches under their jurisdiction.
Today, Danish Kaneria resides with his family in the United States of America.