Pakistan cricket team's former leg spinner Danish Kaneria posted a video clip on X (formerly known as Twitter) from a match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2014 where Pakistani player Ahmed Shehzad could be seen asking Lankan cricketer Tillakaratne Dilshan to convert to Islam so that he would go "straight to heaven". For the unversed, Kaneria is only the second Hindu cricketer to play for Pakistan's national cricket team. It looks like Kaneria posted the video to make a point, let everyone know that he was a victim of relentless communal taunts from his Pakistan teammates, during his playing days.
In the clip, Ahmed Shehzad states, "If you are a non-Muslim and you become Muslim, no matter whatever you do in life... straight to heaven." The incident occurred after Pakistan lost the match to Sri Lanka by 7 wickets, resulting in a 1-2 loss in the bilateral ODI series. Dilshan said something with a smile, and Ahmed Shehzad replied with, "Then be ready for the fire."
Watch below the video posted by Danish Kaneria on X
Here's how PCB reacted to viral video of Ahmed Shehzad offering religious advice to Dilshan
"It was a stupid statement really. He (Ahmed Shehzad) has no business to talk about religion on the field, especially when you are on a foreign tour," Shaharyar Khan, who was the PCB chief back then in 2014, had told PTI.
Pakistan's ODI World Cup 2023 campaign
In the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Pakistan are set to play against the five-time world champions Australia in their next fixture. Pakistan vs Australia ODI World Cup 2023 match will take place in Bengaluru on Friday, October 20 and the Men in Green would look to put their momentum back on track after suffering a convincing defeat against hosts India in Ahmedabad.