Devoted player returns with prayer on lips

Dashing Pakistani opener Saeed Anwar today dismissed fears that his new commitment to religion after the death of his daughter last year wou...

Dashing Pakistani opener Saeed Anwar today dismissed fears that his new commitment to religion after the death of his daughter last year would affect his cricket.

Anwar is likely to open the batting in the Karachi Test against New Zealand starting tomorrow after almost six months out of the game following the death of his three-year-old daughter and a wrist injury.

The 33-year-old computer engineer became a devout Muslim after his only daughter died following a brief illness in September, and now sports a long beard in the style of the Prophet Mohammad.

8220;Turning to religion doesn8217;t mean I can8217;t play cricket I am ready to strike a balance between cricket and religion and want to play at least until next year8217;s World Cup,8221; he said after a training session.

Pak too good for SA and Aussies: Waqar younis

Pakistan skipper Waqar Younis believes his side will be recognised as the world8217;s best by the end of this year. On the eve of the second Test against New Zealand, Waqar said he believes his squad are now good enough to beat the current top dogs in world cricket, Australia and South Africa. 8220;We would like to wrap up the series and prove that we are the best team in the world after our home series against Australia in October this year and then a series in South Africa,8221; Waqar told reporters here.

Led by an awesome 329 by Inzamam-ul Haq, Pakistan downed the Black Caps by an innings and 324 runs in the first Test at Lahore last week after their one-day series triumph by 3-0. 8220;People do try to demean our recent victories by saying that we have beaten Bangladesh, West Indies and New Zealand but we would also beat Australia and South Africa,8221; said Waqar. Fortunes changed dramatically for Younis when he came in from the sidelines to be handed Pakistan8217;s captaincy in April last year. 8220;I have learnt a lot and am satisfied with whatever results we have achieved; the only thing is to improve our consistency and record on home grounds,8221; he said.

Pakistan has not won a home series since whitewashing the West Indies in 1997-98 and has lost six of its last seven home series since losing to Sri Lanka in 1995-96. Reuters

8220;My whole life has changed after my beloved daughter Bismah died last year and I have turned to religion for solace.8221;

Story continues below this ad

A veteran of 55 Tests with 4,025 runs and 230 One-Day Internationals with 8,348 runs, Anwar holds the record for the highest one-day score of 194 made against India at Chennai in 1997-98.

But cricket and his social life have taken a back seat since his personal tragedy and an injury to his left wrist in November, the last time he represented his country.

8220;The whole meaning of my life was my daughter and I have still not recovered from her loss,8221; he said.

Reports in the Pakistani media have suggested Pakistan Cricket Board was reluctant to include Anwar in the team, fearing he might distract other players with his preaching.

Story continues below this ad

8220;This is all rubbish and not true. I have never been a distraction and I would never be because I know my duties to religion and the team,8221; he said.

8220;Islam is a flexible religion and doesn8217;t allow extremismit8217;s a peace-loving religion and I follow these lines.8221;

Asked what he would do if prayer time arrived when he was batting, he said: 8220;I would continue to bat because I can offer prayers after I get out, there is flexibility in the religion. 8220;Even after I retire I would try to devote some time to cricket besides following the religion.8221;

The new Anwar will provide a modern-day reminder of the great English all-rounder W G Grace, who played with a long beard a hundred years ago.