The latest debacle at the Champions Trophy has again prompted questions in the Pakistani media about how important enthusiastic display of religiosity is in the country’s cricket team. Can a lack of willingness to wear your religion on your sleeve cost you a place in the team? And do cricketers use religion to shield themselves when things go wrong on the field?
“I was sorry in the past. Now I am not. It is all from Allah. I remember when I was on 194, I thought, ‘oh six more runs’… and then I was out. Perhaps because I relied on myself and not Allah.”
—Saeed Anwar on missing scoring a double hundred against India in Chennai in May 1997
—Saeed Anwar on missing scoring a double hundred against India in Chennai in May 1997