Australia's Pakistan born Fawad Ahmed shuns nat'l team sponsor VB logo

[Texy]

Sydney: Cricket Australia has agreed to a request by Muslim leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed not to wear the sponsorship logo of beer brand VB because of his faith's ban on alcohol. Pakistan-born Ahmed, who became an Australian citizen in July after his application was fast-tracked, did not have the brewer's logo on his shirt during his international debut in last week's T20 matches against England. Mike McKenna, Cricket Australia's executive general manager for operations, said Tuesday the player first raised the issue when he was selected for the Australia A tour of Britain in June. "Fawad expressed discomfort with the conflict this created for him, due to his religious beliefs," he said. "Cricket Australia and Carlton United Breweries (CUB) are respectful of Fawad's personal beliefs and have agreed with his request to wear an unbranded shirt. "CUB have been a long-standing partner of Australian cricket for more than 17 years and Fawad was thankful for their understanding of his personal situation." South African batsman Hashim Amla, also a Muslim, is another player in a similar situation and has been permitted not to wear the logo of Cricket South Africa sponsor Castle, a beer company, on his kit. The sensitive issue also reared up in English football with striker Papiss Cisse pulling out of Newcastle United's pre-season tour this year, saying he was not prepared to promote the club's sponsors, money-lending company Wonga. But the Senegal international has since donned a Newcastle shirt featuring the logo after talks with the club and Islamic teachers. Ahmed, whose rapid rise has made him a hero to some in Australia's immigrant communities, impressed in his second T20 match for Australia on Sunday, returning three English wickets for 25 runs. His performance was timely after he took none for 43 on debut during the first T20 last week. Source Publicity stunt from the newly citizenship holder?

[Asim]

Not the first one... Dont think it can do much for 'publicity' either...

[Iconoclast]

Nothing wrong with a cold one :beer-bottle: every now and then but I'm glad to see CA respected his beliefs :hatsoff:

[vickyabb]

Please be respectful of a religion @Iconoclast as it is specifically prohibited. Kind regards.

[Crookbond]

Huh? The man has his beliefs and it is great that Australia is respecting it. I don't see why the hullaboo.

[Clarke]

How does it work in such cases ? Who funds the player's equipment and expenses ? Does the player have a problem if VB pays for it ?

[G_B_]

so what about VB do they get a discount from cricket Australia every time Fawad Ahmed takes the field as their logo is not represented? If they do then fair enough. If not then if I was their representative i would ask for a discount or take the ACB to court. Fawad has beliefs, thats fine. Does not mean my product has to suffer after i pay through the nose for it to be advertised. Its ok atm with 1 player. If there are 4-5 players who share anti alcohol beliefs then it will be a huge problem

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Will he also refuse to take money from CA?A part of which comes from VB?

[G_B_]

yup it will be interesting to see if Fawad takea a cut (equivalent to VB's investment per % of his salary)

[asterix]

Just promote some VB fizz drink...Doesn't has to be an Alcohol based product... Like most of the Indian players do when they promote Kingfisher...

[Trundler27]

I remember reading on one of the sports news sites back when Amla refused to wear the castle logo on his kit and reached an agreement with CSA that he actually agreed to forgo a small part of his match fee every game (kind of a penalty) to be allowed to skip this national team requirement. So this is more than fair imo. I'm pretty sure that CA aren't letting Fawad go off for free here. :hatsoff: to anyone who stands up for their personal beliefs in this cut-throat world of competition where one small risk could mean the end of one's career!

[Fontaine]

That's really weak. So he's perfectly willing to earn a salary from VB sponsored Australian Cricket, earn the fame and exposure, play in grounds where beer is sold and advertised, play in a team that has a traditional beer after every match/win etc. But he's just not willing to wear it on his logo. What a dumbass. The thing about respect is that it goes both ways. No one is forcing him to drink beer, but the expectation is that he respect the team and it's sponsors. Otherwise don't play.

[maniac]

This F'ker moves out from the Land of pure where all his beleifs would have been well-preserved and admired to Australia in the first place and now he brings in all his F'ed up beleifs with him-Now there is one thing not drinking or being a good role model,but I call BS onthis one....Why should any rule be altered to suit a particular individual? Didn't this guy seek asylum in the first place...Now go run/work at a local Community center or something to serve the needs of your fellow men....Stop bringing in your f'ed up principles to cricket....Don't like it,Don't play it ...simple

[Crookbond]

This F'ker moves out from the Land of pure where all his beleifs would have been well-preserved and admired to Australia in the first place and now he brings in all his F'ed up beleifs with him-Now there is one thing not drinking or being a good role model,but I call BS onthis one....Why should any rule be altered to suit a particular individual? Didn't this guy seek asylum in the first place...Now go run/work at a local Community center or something to serve the needs of your fellow men....Stop bringing in your f'ed up principles to cricket....Don't like it,Don't play it ...simple

By the same logic - what is your problem? Cricket Australia are fine with respecting his beliefs. If you don't like it, don't read it simple.

[Karan114]

This F'ker moves out from the Land of pure where all his beleifs would have been well-preserved and admired to Australia in the first place and now he brings in all his F'ed up beleifs with him-Now there is one thing not drinking or being a good role model,but I call BS onthis one....Why should any rule be altered to suit a particular individual? Didn't this guy seek asylum in the first place...Now go run/work at a local Community center or something to serve the needs of your fellow men....Stop bringing in your f'ed up principles to cricket....Don't like it,Don't play it ...simple

Take it easy man, he's not stopping you from getting sloshed or advertising beer. I don't agree with him personally (on not drinking, and on the logo issue) but if the Aussie officials don't have a problem then what's the issue...

[maniac]

By the same logic - what is your problem? Cricket Australia are fine with respecting his beliefs. If you don't like it' date=' don't read it simple.[/quote']

[The Realist]

Don't know where to start with this. So moves to another country to escape repression and first thing he *****es about is the sponsor of the national cricket team which he is begging to play for :facepalm: Instead of integrating and adapting he whinges like the poor old victim - please change the record as its getting really boring. And imagine the mirror situation - a Christian wanting preferential treatment in Pak - poor sod would be converted while he slept.

[Texy]

Will he also refuse to take money from CA?A part of which comes from VB?

Yes I was wondering the same thing. Will he be returning that proportion of his wages that is procured from alcohol advertisements, alcohol sales and gambling advertisements and sales? If not, then he's just another hypocrite using religion to expand his popularity. Aus changed immigration laws to accommodate his immigration and now bending over to support his hypocrisy just because the country is lacking a decent spinner.

[Haarkarjeetgaye]

blah. and why does it have to be an news?

[Deleted_User_1]

Don't know where to start with this. So moves to another country to escape repression and first thing he *****es about is the sponsor of the national cricket team which he is begging to play for :facepalm: Instead of integrating and adapting he whinges like the poor old victim - please change the record as its getting really boring. And imagine the mirror situation - a Christian wanting preferential treatment in Pak - poor sod would be converted while he slept.

+++++++++++++ Sometimes you wonder why the whities whine about the Islamic infiltration!!