In a statement act with political overtones, Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur has removed the photograph of the ex-Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria from its premises. The decision has invited commentary on how sports intermingle with politics in India-Pakistan relations, with reactions emanating from cricket followers and experts from across the subcontinent.
The timing of the removal came after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left 26 dead. Kaneria has strongly backed the issue, blaming Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his silence. He also posted on social media: “If Pakistan truly has no role in the attack, why hasn’t @CMShehbaz condemned it?” His comments have gained both support and opposition.
Questions had been posed by many as to why there was a picture of Kaneria in the stadium in the first place, as the man has never played on those grounds. But officials said it was part of a gallery featuring cricketers who had played against India. However, with tensions mounting and Kaneria’s statements stirring controversy, the management has decided to take the picture down so as to avoid any further issues.
Kaneria, the second Hindu cricketer from Pakistan after Anil Dalpat, played 61 Tests and 18 ODIs for his country between 2000 and 2012. He was a class leg-spinner, taking 261 Test wickets, ranking 4th on the all-time list for Pakistan, including 15 instances of five-wicket hauls. His record against India was quite outstanding, as he grabbed 44 wickets in just 11 Tests and 2 ODIs, with a couple of eye-catching performances in big matches.
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Obviously, the name changed instantly after a second set of controversies erupted concerning him some other time in 2012. Set-fixing had taken place while he was playing for Essex. The ECB gave him a life ban from cricket. The scandal put a shadow over his achievements and effectively ended his career internationally.
