After filing a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding crowd behavior toward its players during the India vs. Pakistan 2023 World Cup match at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He said, citing a few instances, that PCB should examine Pakistan’s mistakes rather than pointing the finger at others.
On October 14, in Ahmedabad, India defeated Pakistan by a margin of seven wickets in the championship match of the 2023 World Cup. After bowling Pakistan out for 191, the Men in Blue easily chased the score in 30.3 overs.
During the game, a few events captured the public’s attention. The harsh jeers thrown at Pakistani skipper Babar Azam after the toss and “Jai Shri Ram” shouts when keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan walked back after being dismissed for 49.
In a post shared on X on Tuesday, October 17, the PCB acknowledged that they had filed an official complaint with the ICC regarding “inappropriate conduct targeted at the Pakistan squad during the India vs. Pakistan” match, delays in granting visas to Pakistani journalists, and the lack of a visa policy for Pakistan fans.
On the PCB, it said:
“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged another formal protest with the ICC over delays in visas for Pakistani journalists and the absence of a visa policy for Pakistan fans for the ongoing World Cup 2023.”
“The PCB has also filed a complaint regarding inappropriate conduct targeted at the Pakistan squad during the India vs Pakistan match held on 14 October 2023.”
PCB Official
In response to the PCB’s punishment, Danish Kaneria attacked the cricket governing body and questioned some of Pakistan’s team’s activities.
“Who asked Pakistani journalist Zainab Abbas to comment against India and Hindus? Who asked Mickey Arthur to call ICC event as BCCI event? Who asked Rizwan to perform Namaz in playground? Don’t find faults in others!”
Danish Kaneria
Abbas resigned from the World Cup broadcast panel for to “personal reasons” after some of her older anti-India social media postings came to light. Regarding Arthur, the team manager questioned why there weren’t any Pakistani supporters at the game in Ahmedabad.
Who is Danish Kaneria?
Between 2000 and 2010, former Pakistani leg-spinner Danish Kaneria participated in 61 Test matches and 18 ODIs, taking 261 and 15 wickets, respectively.
The England board imposed a lifetime ban on him after finding him guilty of wrongdoing in a spot-fixing case.
In a 2009 Pro40 match against Durham, Danish Kaneria and Mervyn Westfield, playing for Essex, were deemed to have underperformed.