stop exhibiting religious beliefs in public. Dr Nasim Ashraf

[fkhan2]

Re: stop exhibiting religious beliefs in public. Dr Nasim Ashraf

@cutesponge

The new Pakistan Cricket Board chairman has told the national team to stop exhibiting religious beliefs in public. Dr Nasim Ashraf is concerned about a perception that players will only be picked if they are devout Muslims. And he has discussed the matter with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who is currently serving a ban from the game. "I have told him clearly that there should be no pressure on players who don't pray regularly or any compulsion on them to do it," Ashraf commented. "He has assured me there is no pressure on anyone to do anything they don't want to do." The importance of religion to the Pakistan team has grown in recent years. And batsman Mohammad Yousuf, a former Christian, made headlines in 2005 when he revealed his conversion to Islam.

It resulted in him being publicly disowned by his mother, but he has been in prolific form for Pakistan since then. "I had money and fame but I was restless," he explained. "At the end of the day I would wonder what kind of a life this was. It was too superficial." Ashraf said he accepted religious faith was a motivating factor for the national team. "It binds them together - but there should be balance between religion and cricket," he added. BBC

CuteSponge, kindly put a source of this article, that is a link.

First of all I don't agree with Naseem's statement about telling people what they need to do and what they do not need to do when it comes to religion.

Religion, faith, Iman are something totally personal and that is why I have always been a firm beliver that as long as our players are performing, it doesn't really matter if they are practicing their religous beliefs openly or if they are partying around publicly.

I have no problem if a player is making centures and than doing sajda in front of the world. At the same time I am perfectly ok with someone drinking, hanging around with friends and than getting man of the match in the next game.

Secondly the article talks about a general perception that cricket team will comprise of players who are good practicing muslims. I admit that it is something which has been discussed on this fourm, in media and news lately. But it doesn't neccasarily means that if something is widely discussed than it has to be true. There could always be serious misconceptions among public and If Naseem as PCB chairman is doing something to clear things infront of the world by asking Inzaman, than there is nothing wrong in it. The basic idea is to tell every one that picking up only those players in the team who are devout muslims is not true.

Thirdly no personal attacks in this thread. Try to discuss it in a civilized manner.