Pakistan Asked to Keep Religon private

[Mr Hutt]

The Chairman of the PCB has asked te players to keep their religon private and not display it so openly, i.e wear it on their sleeve.
http://content-www4.cricinfo.com/ci/...ml?CMP=OTC-RSS

Finally i think even though he is not from the cricketing world we have a chairman who knows whats fair and whats not!!! what do you think?

[gangstacocacola]

I agree with the chairman on a few points, but no-one gets forced to do anything. If the players want to pray, or thank God if they won a match in an interview then let them. However, as Inzamam has said, no-one gets force into anything.

[ll0OoO0ll]

The action is right but I dont think it shouldve been made a public news. A private meeting between the players and chairman wouldve been enough to agree with mutual understanding. Something that is still not clear is the degree of extent. Are the players not allowed to pray in congregation, and then there is not point raising the question of forcing anyone to pray, cuz I dont think it happens not only in our team but hardly anywhere in Pakistan.

[Mr Hutt]

Originally Posted by gangstacocacola

I agree with the chairman on a few points, but no-one gets forced to do anything. If the players want to pray, or thank God if they won a match in an interview then let them. However, as Inzamam has said, no-one gets force into anything.

Tell that to Yousuf Youhana's family buddy

[gangstacocacola]

Mohammad yousaf has stated himself many times saying he was not forced to convert or anything.If you believe that after the person himself has said otherwise that nothing will make you think otherwise. He conerted out of his own choice and that is FACT. If you want to believe fiction or things that are not true then that is up to you.

[Mongoose]

I agree Yousuf converted of his own will, from interviews with him that I've read. He kept it private for a few years. On the topic of whether the team should be less openly religious, I really don't want them to be stopped from doing something they want to do. Religion is a contentious issue at present though, so it would be wise for the players to be very careful about how they use their religious beliefs. I don't think it would be a good thing if the Pakistan cricket team came to be seen as a Muslim team. It is a national sports team that should be open to people according to cricket ability, and no player should feel any pressure to convert, or to be more open in their display of Muslim belief. I don't see any problem with the present situation.

[Zainub]

Biggest load of rubbish I've come across in a long time, to even suggest that Inzi or any other other team members at any point in time might have forced anyone to do anything with regards to faith - total and absolute rubbish.

As for the advice given to the team with regards to toning down their public observances of faith, its un-constitutional and violates basic human rights. Everyone has the absolute right to observe their faith in public or in private as they wish. If Naseem Ashraf and Mushy or indeed any one esle has a problem with that, they might as well keep on having it, I can't see how the team will stop observing their prayers or this or that because of them.

[ll0OoO0ll]

Originally Posted by Zainub

Biggest load of rubbish I've come across in a long time, to even suggest that Inzi or any other other team members at any point in time might have forced anyone to do anything with regards to faith - total and absolute rubbish.

As for the advice given to the team with regards to toning down their public observances of faith, its un-constitutional and violates basic human rights. Everyone has the absolute right to observe their faith in public or in private as they wish. If Naseem Ashraf and Mushy or indeed any one esle has a problem with that, they might as well keep on having it, I can't see how the team will stop observing their prayers or this or that because of them.

May be I've missed something but to my understanding, Inzi was not labled as being someone who forced a player to engage in religious congregations, however, to some extent I do agree with Naseem Ashraf when it comes to keeping balance between faith and sports. Harbajan Singh constantly attended Islamic lectures delivered by muslim scholars to our players in the privacy of their hotel during our last visit to India. Was he forced to do it? NO, but as as someone put it, we dont wanna be called a muslim team cuz it has the potential of barrig non muslim players like Yousuf (who now converted) and Danish Kaneria from entering in the national team. And in my opinion, there is absolutely nothing wrong in public display of your faith (like offering prayers in congregation or saying Bismillah before starting a conversation); however, faith is primarily kept in the heart, and not in public display.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Zainub

Biggest load of rubbish I've come across in a long time

My thoughts exactly. Naseem Ashraf is acting like a moron, which is not unusual in people of his ilk; however, he seems to be exceedingly arrogant too - the combination of these two characteristics in one person is probably the worst concoction in a human being.