New Delhi: If you happened to log in to your Twitter account on Tuesday, you'd have noticed #Justice4Kaneria as one of the trending hashtags.
Interesting, this show of support for former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria was not initiated in Pakistan but India instead.
Several Indians are now echoing the opinion of the leg-spinner that he is being discriminated against by the PCB on the basis of his religion.
Earlier in the month, Kaneria visited India with his family to perform religious duties.
“I am back now because Pakistan is my country and my place of birth. I think with me now back in Karachi everyone who was talking about me going to India to settle down there or even accused me of making anti-Pakistan cricket statements have got their answer. I am back now because Pakistan is my country and my place of birth,'' said the leg-spinner, who is only the second Hindu to play Test cricket for Pakistan, on his return.
Kaneria was banned for life for spot-fixing in 2012 by England and Wales Cricket Board.
“Why should I admit or confess to something I never did. As it is, the Pakistan Board did not support me or listen to my story and I have suffered a lot of humiliation and financial losses so what more can happen now,” he said.
PCB was discriminated against because he was a Hindu by religion. @icc @bcci #Justice4Kaneria
— Satwinder Singh (@Satwinder2413) June 28, 2016
#Justice4Kaneria धार्मिक भेदभाव के चलते एक प्रतिभावान खिलाडी की प्रतिभा का गला घोंटा जा रहा है
— jhujhar Singh (@SinghJ223) June 28, 2016
I request to @BCCI to intervene in Danish Kaneria matter and give him justice. He is a son of Bharat Bhoomi. #Justice4Kaneria
— Abhishek Mishra (@AbhishekVHP) June 28, 2016
Why has the PCB completely remained aloof of the case which Kaneria had to face in UK on his own? #Justice4Kaneria
— I Support BJP (@iSupportBJP) June 28, 2016
How does that justify Kaneria’s ban when nothing has been concretely established against him by the UK courts? #Justice4Kaneria
— The humanitarian (@HumanitarianThe) June 28, 2016
#Justice4Kaneria It has been six long years since Kaneria has been fighting for justice that has been denied to him. @ICC @ianuragthakur
— Satish Yadav (@isatishyadav) June 28, 2016
The fight is not only about lift the ban but restoration of his honor! Give him his life back..#Justice4Kaneria pic.twitter.com/0Hf2mRuAL1
— Judshane (@Judshane) June 28, 2016
Kaneria had upset the PCB when in an interview in India he said he was discriminated against because he was a Hindu by religion.
“I just said that the way the PCB has ignored and sidelined my case I feel isolated and let down. My case has never been taken up properly by the PCB. If there is concrete evidence against me of wrong doing I ask them to show it to the world once for all,” Kaneria said.
“If you don’t get justice and attention what else can you feel when you belong to a minority community,” he added.
The Pakistan board rubbished Kaneria’s claims and in a statement reminded the leg-spinner that he played 61 Tests for Pakistan.
“If he was discriminated against at any time because of his religion he would not have played even one match for Pakistan,” the PCB said in a statement.
(With PTI inputs)