“What do you think Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli don’t pray?”  – Danish Kaneria takes a dig at Mohammad Rizwan

27 Oct “What do you think Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli don’t pray?”  – Danish Kaneria takes a dig at Mohammad Rizwan

Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria recently questioned wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan’s motive behind offering Namaz in front of the Indian crowd during the ongoing 2023 World Cup. 

Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria recently questioned wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan’s motive behind offering Namaz in front of the Indian crowd during the ongoing 2023 World Cup.

Danish Kaneria has expressed his opinion that Mohammad Rizwan should offer Namaz in the dressing room instead of on the ground. Offering prayers, including Namaz, is a personal religious practice, and where and when individuals choose to do so can vary based on their beliefs and preferences.

It’s important to note that the way individuals express their faith or engage in religious practices can be a matter of personal choice and cultural or religious traditions. In cricket and many other sports, players come from diverse backgrounds and may have different ways of expressing their faith or devotion.

Kaneria’s observations about the way individuals approach their faith and religious practices can vary widely. Some athletes, like cricketers, may choose to keep their religious activities private, while others may feel comfortable expressing their faith in public. It’s a matter of personal choice and individual belief, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to religious expression in sports.

In diverse and multicultural teams like those in international cricket, players come from various backgrounds and may have different ways of expressing their faith. It’s important to respect the individual choices and beliefs of each player and to appreciate the rich diversity within the sport. Ultimately, sports can serve as a platform for athletes to express their identity, including their religious and cultural heritage, in the way that feels most authentic to them.

In such cases, opinions about when and where these practices should take place may vary, and it often becomes a topic of discussion and debate within the cricketing community and among fans. Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal choice and individual belief.

Speaking to Aaj Tak, Danish Kaneria remarked (14:00):

“For this current Pakistani team, religion comes first, then it’s politics, while cricket is the third priority. I don’t understand their antics. If you want to offer Namaz, do it in the dressing room.””What’s the need to do it in front of everyone?” he continued. “We also do our Puja. But we don’t start doing Aarti on the ground. What do you think—Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli don’t pray, or Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj don’t offer Namaz?” 

Danish Kaneria, who is a Hindu, stated that he faced a lot of discrimination during his playing days because of his religion. He revealed that his Pakistani teammates would often wake him up for Fajr Namaz, adding (12:50):

“My teammates used to call me to inform me about the time for Fajr Namaz. I got fed up after it happened a few times and asked them to stop calling me. There was a lot of discrimination once Inzamam-ul-Haq left.”

Danish Kaneria is indeed one of Pakistan’s notable cricketers and was known for his skills as a leg-spin bowler. He is the fourth-highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in Test matches, with 261 wickets in 61 Tests. His career, however, was marred by controversy when he was banned for life by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for his involvement in a spot-fixing scandal.

Kaneria’s life ban was a significant development in his career and had a lasting impact on his reputation. Spot-fixing incidents have had a negative influence on the sport and have led to severe consequences for those involved, including bans and legal actions. It serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining the integrity and fair play in cricket and all sports.