Danish Parabha Shankar Kaneria (born 16 December 1980) is a Pakistani former cricketer who represented the Pakistan national cricket team in international cricket between 2000 and 2010. A right-arm leg spinner with a well-developed googly, Kaneria became one of Pakistan's leading spin bowlers of his era, playing 61 Test matches and taking 261 wickets. He was the second Hindu, after his cousin Anil Dalpat, and the seventh non-Muslim overall to represent Pakistan in international cricket.
| Full name | Danish Parabha Shankar Kaneria |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 December 1980 |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Role | Right-arm leg spinner (googly bowler) |
| International career | 2000–2010 |
| Tests | 61 matches, 261 wickets at 34.79 |
| ODIs | 18 matches, 15 wickets (average above 45) |
| T20Is | None |
| First-class matches | 206 |
| List A matches | 167 |
| Twenty20 matches | 65 |
| County cricket | Essex County Cricket Club (2004, 2010) |
Kaneria belongs to the Hindu community of Pakistan. His emergence in Pakistani cricket followed that of his cousin Anil Dalpat, the country's first Hindu international cricketer. Kaneria's selection placed him among a small group of non-Muslim cricketers who have represented Pakistan at the international level.
Kaneria made his Test debut for Pakistan in 2000 and went on to play 61 Tests over a decade, finishing with 261 wickets at an average of 34.79. His best bowling figures in an innings were 7 for 77, and his best match figures were 12 for 94, both achieved against Bangladesh.
He recorded 15 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. He took six wickets in an innings on three occasions and seven wickets in an innings on four occasions. He claimed ten or more wickets in a match twice — once against Bangladesh and once against Sri Lanka.
In one-day international cricket, Kaneria appeared in 18 matches, taking 15 wickets at an average of over 45. He never represented Pakistan in Twenty20 International cricket.
Kaneria played English county cricket for Essex County Cricket Club in 2004 and again in 2010, contributing to the side as an overseas spinner.
Following allegations relating to spot fixing, Kaneria was handed a lifetime ban by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), prohibiting him from participating in any cricket under the board's jurisdiction. He filed an appeal against the sanction, which was rejected in July 2013. In 2015, the ECB sought the assistance of Pakistani authorities in recovering £250,000 from him.
In October 2018, Kaneria stated that he had met an individual named Anu Bhatt, described as a match fixer, but said he had not known at the time that the person was a fixer. He also stated that several of his teammates were acquainted with Bhatt.
Kaneria is regarded as one of the most prolific spin bowlers Pakistan has produced in Test cricket, with his wicket tally placing him among the country's leading slow bowlers. His career also held wider social significance as a high-profile non-Muslim cricketer representing Pakistan, following in the footsteps of his cousin Anil Dalpat.