Cricket Australia has granted Fawad Ahmed’s request to not wear the logo of tour sponsor Victoria Bitter during the limited overs tour of England and Scotland.
Ahmed, who left Pakistan in 2009 as a refugee and gained Australian citizenship last month, reportedly informed Cricket Australia that he was not comfortable wearing the VB logo due to his Islamic beliefs.
His Australian shirt did not display the VB logo during his breakthrough Twenty20 performance against England at Chester-le-Street on Saturday, during which he claimed figures of 3-25.
Cricket Australia’s executive general manager operations told Fairfax Media his organisation was “respectful of Fawad’s personal beliefs”.
The VB sponsorship covers the Test, one-day and Twenty20 teams is worth an eight-figure sum. Previous Test sponsor Vodafone’s commitment was estimated to be as much as $15 million.
The spinner has previously gone through the same process with his Victorian state team where he was given permission to play without the beer company’s logo on his shirt.
“I have never had the drink in my life,” Ahmed said at the time.
“There is no contact with alcohol for me, even I am not wearing the logo on my cricket shirt.”
There was one awkward moment involving alcohol in the Victorian camp reported the News Limited’s Warwick Green.
Celebrating a stirring win, the Bushrangers sprayed champagne around the dressing room, with Ahmed uncomfortable to be among those who were soaked.
Skipper Cameron White had a chat with him outside the dressing room door and all learned from the experience.
“The players respect that and it is a good thing for them, too,” Ahmed said.
“They are asking so many questions about my tradition and my culture and especially about my religion.
“All of the teams, the whole country, everyone has really respected my religion, my tradition. I have never had a single problem about my prayers, (whether it be) at the train station or the bus stop or the cricket ground, in the player rooms.
“I have missed some training because of Ramadan, missed some game time because I had to come to pray and then come back on to the ground.
“Especially Melbourne is so multicultural. So many mosques around, so many halal meat shops, so I never felt any problems with my religion. That is such a good thing about this country.”
On the eve of his departure for England with the Australia A team, Ahmed invited several club teammates as well as friends from his mosque to a BBQ at his house. There was no alcohol, but a feast of traditional Pakistani cooking and a couple of volcanic curries.
Melbourne Uni president Derek Bennett said it was one of greatest social cricket functions he had attended.
“It had to have been the most unique send-off any Australian had ever had before embarking on a tour of England,” he said.
Ahmed is one of two Muslims in the Australian squad. Usman Khawaja, also born in Pakistan, wore VB logos on his shirt during the Ashes series.
South Africa batsman Hashim Amla has previously refused to wear Castle Lager branding on his international team kit.
And in the English Premier League, Papiss Cisse recently caused a stir when he refused to wear a Newcastle United shirt emblazoned with the sponsor of a pay-day loan centre.