Kaneria looks up to Qadir and Mushtaq for right inspiration

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria wants to follow in the footsteps of Abdul Qadir and Mushtaq Ahmed by becoming a regular match-winning bowler for ...

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria wants to follow in the footsteps of Abdul Qadir and Mushtaq Ahmed by becoming a regular match-winning bowler for Pakistan.

“I have always looked up to them. I grew up watching Qadir bowl and studied his video tapes a lot,” Kaneria said after putting Pakistan in a strong position in the second Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday by capturing 6-102.

Kaneria’s spell on the fourth day put Pakistan on the path of a possible series-levelling win.

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“When I started playing top level cricket Mushtaq helped and encouraged me,” Kaneria added.

The 23-year-old, who is only the second Hindu to represent Pakistan in Test cricket after his uncle Anil Dalpat, said he was proud to practice a rare art in bowling.

“I always wanted to be a leg spinner and I took inspiration from Qadir, while Mushtaq guided me in the team. My ambition is to seek a permanent place in the team now,” he said. Qadir played 67 Tests for Pakistan taking 236 wickets, while Mushtaq has a Test haul of 185 in 52 matches.

Kaneria has now taken 86 wickets in 20 Tests with six five-wicket hauls. “I enjoyed bowling in this Test. There was a lot of responsibility on me in the absence of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami. The pitch is good for batting and it was a challenge bowling on it.

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“I took advantage of the rough patches around the crease and because of my height I got bounce and turn and that bothered them a lot. “I knew the wickets would come.”