James McKeown
Separation of Religion and Cricket
November 26th 2006 14:54
As Muslims... we are often criticized for our inability to separate religion from politics and be secular. The loyalty of Muslims towards the country they live in is doubted in most countries where they are a minority..As much as I despise the idea of a secular muslim and would LOVE to write about how idiotic it is...but this is a cricket blog and I will stay on topic..
This time...Muslims have been criticized for something new...this time they have been asked to separate cricket from religion... and guess where it came from...PAKISTAN
Wait a second...did I hear that right?? Pakistan did you say?? What?? Pakistan?? Was that the nation that was created to serve as a homeland for Muslims?? Wasnt that the entire idea behind the partition??? Isnt Pakistan called Islamic Republic??
Umm...things are a bit different now... The man in charge of Pakistan now is Mr Pervez Musharaf...the lion..the Rambo...the man who saved Paksitan from the brink of destruction...the man who has introduced englightened moderation in Pakistan..the man who is a military dictator yet manages to get away with it..
Naseem Ashraf..the new PCB chairman has recently instructed captain Inzamam ul Haq to separate religion from cricket...
Before I go any further...what needs to be explained is why such a directive was given in the first place...
Recently....what has been a common practice is the use of the words "Inshallah, Bismillah, Alhamdulillah" by Pakistani cricketers during presentations, interviews etc.. This made one English reporter to remark that Allah should win the Man of the Series Award during the England-Pakistan series late last year. Pakistani players are openly seen praying together during net sessions or on the fields. The straw that broke the camel's back was Mohammad Yousuf's conversion to Islam last year...Mohammad Yousuf was a Christian before..
At a time when Pervez Musharaf is desperately trying to please America and has started using terms like "enlightened moderation" a religious cricket team, that constantly mentions words like Allah, Inshallah, Bismillah and is seen openly praying together on the fields, does not gel too well with Mr Musharaf's plans..
So what does he do?? He rings up the mini Musharaf Mr Naseem Ashraf..who has been handpicked by the man himself to be the chairman of PCB. and asks him to take necessary steps...Hence such a directive was given to the players...
There is absolutely no doubt about the postiive Islam has had on the Pakistan cricket team... The Pakistan cricket team hihas been known more for its off field activities - match fixing, brawls between players etc. Over the last 2 years or so...there is a change in the Pakistan cricket team... No longer are these stories heard....there is a bond of brotherhood visible between the players. There is unity, there is confidence and there is faith...the best example of this would be Mohammad Yousuf's growth as a player. He wa always a good batsman...today he is a very very good batsman...there is absolutely no doubt about the importance offaith in his transformation.
But politicians dont understand that.. Little to these people realize that if there is anything that needs to be separated from Pakistani cricket...its Musharaf and his henchmen...
This time...Muslims have been criticized for something new...this time they have been asked to separate cricket from religion... and guess where it came from...PAKISTAN
Wait a second...did I hear that right?? Pakistan did you say?? What?? Pakistan?? Was that the nation that was created to serve as a homeland for Muslims?? Wasnt that the entire idea behind the partition??? Isnt Pakistan called Islamic Republic??
Umm...things are a bit different now... The man in charge of Pakistan now is Mr Pervez Musharaf...the lion..the Rambo...the man who saved Paksitan from the brink of destruction...the man who has introduced englightened moderation in Pakistan..the man who is a military dictator yet manages to get away with it..
Naseem Ashraf..the new PCB chairman has recently instructed captain Inzamam ul Haq to separate religion from cricket...
Before I go any further...what needs to be explained is why such a directive was given in the first place...
Recently....what has been a common practice is the use of the words "Inshallah, Bismillah, Alhamdulillah" by Pakistani cricketers during presentations, interviews etc.. This made one English reporter to remark that Allah should win the Man of the Series Award during the England-Pakistan series late last year. Pakistani players are openly seen praying together during net sessions or on the fields. The straw that broke the camel's back was Mohammad Yousuf's conversion to Islam last year...Mohammad Yousuf was a Christian before..
At a time when Pervez Musharaf is desperately trying to please America and has started using terms like "enlightened moderation" a religious cricket team, that constantly mentions words like Allah, Inshallah, Bismillah and is seen openly praying together on the fields, does not gel too well with Mr Musharaf's plans..
So what does he do?? He rings up the mini Musharaf Mr Naseem Ashraf..who has been handpicked by the man himself to be the chairman of PCB. and asks him to take necessary steps...Hence such a directive was given to the players...
There is absolutely no doubt about the postiive Islam has had on the Pakistan cricket team... The Pakistan cricket team hihas been known more for its off field activities - match fixing, brawls between players etc. Over the last 2 years or so...there is a change in the Pakistan cricket team... No longer are these stories heard....there is a bond of brotherhood visible between the players. There is unity, there is confidence and there is faith...the best example of this would be Mohammad Yousuf's growth as a player. He wa always a good batsman...today he is a very very good batsman...there is absolutely no doubt about the importance offaith in his transformation.
But politicians dont understand that.. Little to these people realize that if there is anything that needs to be separated from Pakistani cricket...its Musharaf and his henchmen...
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