Danish Prabha Shankar Kaneria, a former Pakistani cricketer, was born on December 16, 1980 in Karachi, Pakistan, and is well known for his well-hidden googly.
From 2000 to 2010, he represented Pakistan in Tests and One-Day Internationals.
Danish was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm leg spinner. He was the 7th non-Muslim cricketer to play for Pakistan, and the 2nd Hindu cricketer to do so.
Background
Danish began his career in 1998, when he played against National Shipping Company in a match against HBL.
He also represented the Karachi Dolphins, Balochistan Tigers, Karachi Harbour, Karachi Zebras, Karachi Blacks, Karachi Whites, and Sindh Cricket Team, in addition to National Shipping Company.
Danish had 12 matches with 10 or more wickets and 71 five-wicket hauls during his first-class career.
Debut
Kaneria made his international debut as a leg-spinner in a Test match against England in Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium in 2002, when he was 19 years old. He took two wickets in the first innings and was wicketless in the second.
He was granted his ODI debut against Zimbabwe at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium a year after his Test debut, but he was only able to appear in 18 ODIs due to Pakistan’s preference for two spinning all-rounders.
Rise to Glory
Danish took some time to adjust to international cricket, but once he did, he became an important cog in Pakistan’s bowling attack, even while playing in foreign conditions.
He took 261 wickets at an average of 34.79 in 61 Test appearances. His best bowling performance in an innings was 7/77 runs, and his best bowling performance in a match was 12 wickets for 94 runs, earning him the man of the match trophy. All of these performances came against Bangladesh.
He was nominated for the ICC Test Player of the Year by the International Cricket Council in 2005 for his performance, and the BBC once described him as a “match-winner with his leg-breaks.”
Club Career
Kaneria played in the English County Championship for Essex from 2004 to 2010. In 2005, he surprised everyone in county cricket by taking 32 wickets in seven championship matches for Essex.
Records
Danish is just fourth on the list of Pakistani bowlers with the most Test wickets, behind Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Imran Khan. Aside from England, he has a 5-wicket haul against any Test-playing country.