Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has dismissed rumours suggesting he intends to seek Indian citizenship, saying he has “no such plans” and remains proud of his Pakistani roots. Kaneria, who currently lives in the United States with his family, addressed the speculation through a detailed post on X.
“Lately, I have seen many people questioning me—asking why I comment on Bharat’s internal matters and alleging that I do so for Bharatiya citizenship. I feel it is important to set the record straight,” he wrote.
Kaneria, who is Hindu, acknowledged facing religious discrimination from Pakistani authorities and the Pakistan Cricket Board, claiming he was at times pressured to convert. “From Pakistan and its people, I have received much love, but also deep discrimination from the authorities,” he said.
Clarifying his stance, the 44-year-old added, “Pakistan may be my Janmabhoomi (birthplace), but Bharat, the land of my ancestors, is my Matrubhumi (motherland). For me, Bharat is like a temple. At present, I have no plans to seek Bharatiya citizenship.”
He further said that if anyone in his position chose to do so in the future, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) would already be in place to support such applicants.
The former leg-spinner also reassured followers about his wellbeing: “With the blessings of Prabhu Shri Ram, I am safe and happy with my family. My fate rests in the hands of Lord Ram.”
Kaneria played 61 Test matches and 18 ODIs for Pakistan between 2000 and 2010, taking over 250 Test wickets. His cricketing career ended after he was handed a lifetime ban by the England and Wales Cricket Board for his involvement in a spot-fixing case