Pakistan’s former cricketer Danish Kaneria Friday lavished praise on Indian industrialist Gautam Adani for “dedicating his wealth to serving “Sanatan Dharma”.

Earlier this week, Gautam Adani, the Chairman of the Adani Group, immersed himself in the sacred rituals of Maha Kumbh, the world’s largest religious gathering, in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj and offered prayers.

The billionaire also participated in a host of rituals at the Mela ground, including preparation of the ‘Mahaprasad’ (sacred meal) and distributing it to the Kumbh pilgrims.

“This is exactly why forces around the world are working relentlessly to bring this man down. He’s dedicating his wealth and resources to serving Sanatan Dharma, not pandering to any ‘ecosystem’,” said Danish Kaneria, Pakistan’s highest wicket-taking spinner.

The Adani Group saw billions of dollars wiped from its market value last year after US short-seller Hindenburg Research accused it of corporate fraud. Gautam Adani, Asia’s second-richest man, denied the allegations made in that report, calling it a “deliberate attempt” to damage its image for the benefit of Hindenburg and other short-sellers.

“As someone from a Gujarati Hindu family, I take immense pride in having you as part of our community,” said Mr Kaneria. 

This is exactly why forces around the world are working relentlessly to bring this man down.

He’s dedicating his wealth and resources to serving Sanatan Dharma, not pandering to any ‘ecosystem.’

As someone from a Gujarati Hindu family, I take immense pride in having you as… https://t.co/5MReIu4crN

— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) January 24, 2025

Earlier today, Mr Gautam Adani shared a post on X about his experience during his visit to Prayagraj.

In the post, he expressed his thoughts on the divine occasion of the Mahakumbh and wrote: “We are blessed to have the opportunity to serve millions of devotees on the divine occasion of the Maha Kumbh. Service is a practice, service is a prayer, and service is God. May the blessings of Mother Ganga remain with us all.”

The Adani Group and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) have also teamed up to serve meals to devotees at the Maha Kumbh.

The Mahaprasad Seva will be offered for the entire duration of the Maha Kumbh Mela, from January 13 to February 26.

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)

The BCCI has implemented a 10-point diktat on the Indian team, putting restrictions on the amount of time players can spend with their family members while on a tour, with a maximum of 14 days set to be allowed in a 45-day tour. It is a move that has stirred debate among cricketers, experts and fans alike, but some have come out in defence of such a manoeuvre. Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria is among those who believes that such a decision would be beneficial in enhancing team bonding.

BCCI’s decision to restrict the amount of time players can spend with their family comes after two disastrous Test series losses – 0-3 at home against New Zealand, and 3-1 away in Australia.

Kaneria is in favour of the move, bringing up examples from how the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh would bond.

“When it comes to team bonding, I remember the India tour of Pakistan in 2005. We were playing in Multan and we were staying at Serena Hote. In the evening, we saw that every Indian player – Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh – all these players used to go to Sachin Tendulkar’s room. They used to talk, and make strategies. There was a lot of bonding. I think the bonding was missing,” Kaneria said, speaking on his YouTube channel.

“Eventually you will go back to your home. It’s okay that you bring them for one or two weeks and then spend time with your teammates. It increases your understanding, you bond with each other, and you know each other’s nature,” Kaneria explained.

In a meeting between the BCCI administrators, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma, Gambhir has reportedly complained about the indiscipline within the team, and the lack of team bonding.

This was backed up by the fact that following India’s win at Perth, the team celebrated in groups, and not together. Only one team dinner reportedly took place throughout the tour.

File photo of Rohit Sharma.© BCCI

Danish Kaneria labelled the defeat in Multan as the “funeral of Pakistan cricket”.© X (Twitter)

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria didn’t hold back in his scathing criticism of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Pakistan team following their humiliating Test series loss to Bangladesh. It was Pakistan’s first-ever Test series defeat to Bangladesh and Kaneria expressed his frustration, even going so far as to say that “a mohalla team is better than them.”

The two-match series saw Pakistan dominate the first Test with a resounding 10-wicket victory. However, in a shocking turnaround, Bangladesh chased down 185 runs in the second Test with six wickets in hand, marking the third-highest successful run chase by a visiting team on Pakistani soil. The loss has raised serious concerns about the direction of the team under Babar Azam‘s leadership.

In an interview with IANS, Kaneria didn’t mince words while talking about the Pakistan team’s recent performance against Bangladesh.

“The level of the Pakistan cricket team is so low that even a mohalla team is better than them, and all this is because of the PCB. They are to be blamed for such a below-par show from the national side. The luxuries of the captain’s ‘kursi’ (chair) and the chairmanship at the PCB spoil minds,” he said, highlighting the disconnect between the leadership and the performance on the field.

Kaneria, also pointed out what he sees as a flawed decision by the PCB in replacing former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed with Babar Azam. Sarfaraz, who led Pakistan to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, had been performing well across formats, but Kaneria believes the current leadership cannot handle pressure situations.

“I don’t know why Babar Azam was given the leadership responsibility despite Sarfaraz Ahmed’s good captaincy. Currently, there is no captain material in the Pakistan team. A captain is someone who takes the pressure on his shoulders and carries the team forward with his performance, which both Babar and Shan Masood have failed to do,” Kaneria lamented. 

“Can’t they have scored one century against Bangladesh in their home conditions?”

Kaneria also drew a comparison between Pakistan and their arch-rivals, India, emphasising that Indian players have consistently stepped up to the plate when required, creating a world-class team.

“When you look at the current Indian team, everyone takes responsibility and performs when it is needed. Shubman (Gill), Rishabh (Pant), (Ravichandran) Ashwin — everyone contributes, and that is why they are a world-class team,” he added.

As someone who has closely observed the evolution of Indian cricket, Kaneria had high praise for Rishabh Pant, India’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter. Despite Pant’s recent injury struggles, Kaneria suggested that he could be a future leader for India, especially in Test cricket.

“Rishabh Pant can lead India in Tests in the future. He has that caliber. He is performing very well after his injury comeback, and being a wicketkeeper, he keeps himself engaged with the bowlers and fielders always. Indian cricket is going great guns,” Kaneria said.

Danish Kaneria called out the PCB for the backbiting culture in Pakistan cricket.© AFP

File photo of Virat Kohli (L) and Babar Azam© AFP

There has been a lot of speculations over whether the Indian cricket team will be travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. India and Pakistan have not played a single bilateral series for nearly a decade due to political tensions and their only matches take place during Asia Cup and ICC events. The Pakistan team did travel to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup but India have not provided any guarantees for the Champions Trophy. In an interview with Sports Tak, former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria said that India should not travel to Pakistan for the competition and insisted that Dubai will be the better venue.

“Looking at the situation in Pakistan, I have to say that the Indian team should not go to Pakistan, and Pakistan should think about it, and then the ICC will make its decision, and most likely, it will be a hybrid model, it will played in Dubai. The media gets hype, everyone’s videos get likes because the big manjan is good so it will sell. So I think this is a reality and it will definitely be a hybrid model,” he said.

“The safety of the players is the first priority. The safety of the players is the first priority. Respect is the second priority. There are many things. I think BCCI is doing a great job. I think all the countries will accept the final decision. I think it will be a hybrid model,” he added.

Kaneria further said that the situation in India is much better than that in Pakistan and as a result, it was easier for the Pakistan cricket team to travel for the ODI World Cup in 2023.

“The main issue is that money will come. That’s why there is so much talk about Indian team coming, there will be sponsorships, media will grow, there will be a channel of Dhoom Dham, this will happen, that will happen, there will be a lot of things, money will come well, this will happen. But that’s okay. But you see the other grey area which you are fixing right now. If you think positively, your mind that the situation is not good, security concerns are there, the rest of the team is coming but this is an Indian team. This is an Indian team. Now, we went to India, so the situation in India is far more better, the balance is there, everything is good, the world travels, tourists come from all over the world, so everything is great and the government is doing a fantastic job. So that’s the thing, that’s the reality.”

Pakistan athlete Arshad Nadeem has been grabbing a lot of limelight for all the good reasons as he clinched the gold medal in the Men’s Javelin Throw event at the Paris Olympics 2024. Nadeem edged past the defending champion and India star Neeraj Chopra with his monster throw of 92.97m in his second attempt on Thursday (IST). While Chopra settled for silver with his throw of 89.45m, Nadeem became Pakistan’s first individual gold medalist at the Olympics. However, Nadeem’s journey to reach the Olympic podium was not an easy one as the star athlete faced numerous struggles.

Son of a construction worker, Nadeem had to go through a tough time to even fulfill his family’s basic needs. Recently, Pakistan Cricket League franchise Multan Sultans’ owner, businessman Ali Tareen revealed that his company supported Nadeem on its own, without the athlete making any appeal for help.

“We started supporting him earlier this year. The main goal was to give him a reliable regular income so he didn’t have to worry about running his household between tournaments. It’s a long-term commitment regardless of tournament participation, performance or injuries,” The Indian Express quoted Tareen as saying.

“I work with a lot of underprivileged athletes. And the stress of providing for their family on a monthly basis is a huge stress and is always at the back of their mind. Arshad never made an appeal for funding. His statement was taken out of context. We reached out to him ourselves,” he added.

Talking about the awards, Nadeem is set to receive a grand amount of more than PKR 150 million (more than INR 4.5 crore and USD 538,000).

Out of this amount, the Chief Minister of the Pakistan state of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, has announced a reward of PKR 100 million for Nadeem, according to Pakistan-based news outlet Dawn. Punjab governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has announced a further PKR 2 million reward.

PKR 50 million will be awarded to Nadeem by the Chief Minister of Sindh, with Karachi mayor Murtaza Wahab having been quoted on it. Sindh governor Kamran Tessori also announced a PKR 1 million more.

Popular Pakistani singer Ali Zafar has confirmed that he will be giving PKR 1 million to Nadeem, while cricketer Ahmad Shahzad has also awarded the same amount through his foundation.

Pakistan failed to make the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024.© X (Twitter)