Fringe Benefits

Big deal, you say; minorities have captained, and dominated, Indian cricket teams ab initio. But while minorities in India make up one in every five people, only 3 per cent of all Pakistanis are non-Muslims. It makes great PR for cricket in a country which has acquired a reputation of suppressing minorities. ‘‘Youhana’s captaincy was epochal, and no one objected to it because of his religion”, says Rameez Raja, chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and former captain. “You don’t have to be better than the Muslims to be selected. You also won’t be dropped on any similar grounds.’’

Nor is there, obviously, any suggestion of tokenism, as there is in South African cricket. Both players are in on merit, as Kaneria asserts. ‘‘There is stiff competition for places in Pakistan, and only performance counts.’’

Coincidentally, the largest non-Muslim representation in Pakistan cricket comes at a time when the Indian team also boasts two Muslim stars — Zaheer Khan and Mohammed Kaif — with Wasim Jaffer, Irfan Pathan Jr and Munaf Patel waiting in the wings.

The corresponding lack of numbers at the top level in Pakistan can be explained, apart from the overall small population, by the lack of focus on cricket. ‘‘Most Hindu families have different priorities’’, says Kaneria, ‘‘they focus on things other than cricket.’’ His is obviously different, because it also produced the first Hindu to play for Pakistan: wicket-keeper Anil Dalpat, son of a respected cricket administrator in Karachi.

The numbers aren’t that small, argues Raja. ‘‘We have always had Christians and Hindus turning out in our domestic matches. There are a couple of names right now too, but no one who can make it in the next year or so.’’

Those players could be Rajesh and Vinod Ramesh, brothers from Karachi. Rajesh, a medium-fast bowler, has played league cricket in England while Vinod is just starting out.

They will go through the system, something that Raja is proud of. ‘‘The fact that Kaneria and Youhana has come up through the system says a lot. But Youhana is not just a representative for the Christians. He also has the entire Muslim community behind him, as does Kaneria.’’

But does religion create a pressure of performance? ‘‘Absolutely not’’, says Youhana. ‘‘There’s no pressure on me just because of my religion, not even when I captained Pakistan for the first time. Everybody treats Danish and I as their equals. More than religion I believe the country comes first.’’

When Kaneria and Dalpat echo his words, you change tack. Okay, so a pressure to conform? Those who watch Pakistani cricket, even on TV, have seen Youhana and Kaneria say shukrallah and similar phrases when receiving trophies. Why?

‘‘Everything is in the hands of Allah, there is nothing in the hands of man’’, says Youhana (who, tellingly, has retained the Arabic for Joseph, he says it was simply the custom in their area). ‘‘When Sachin scores a century, why does he look at the sky? Who knows who is looking at you, me or anyone from the sky? Is it God, Allah or Bhagwan? I don’t think you should even bother with anyone’s religion in cricket.’’

‘‘I referred to Allah out of my heart’’, says Kaneria. ‘‘I look up to everyone, Allah, Bhagwan and God. I call my parents Ammi and Abbu.’’

If Youhana’s and Kaneria’s stars are on the ascendant, Anil Dalpat didn’t last too long. But he says firmly that religion wasn’t the cause of his truncated international career. Instead, he feels he was caught in the clashes between Imran Khan and the Mohammed brothers — Hanif and Mushtaq.

‘‘I blame Imran for my not playing the full quota of Test cricket. During those days Imran was player, coach, captain and I was just caught in the crossfire of personality clashes. But this happens everywhere, doesn’t it?’’

Today, as he sits in England — where he’s lived 15 years — taking courses in cricket coaching and journalism, he has twinges of regret. ‘‘Looking back, I feel I was playing in the wrong era because things are changing now. My cousin Danish is now playing for Pakistan. I’m not in touch with him, I don’t know if he’s under any pressure. But obviously you’re in a side and every other person is doing one thing,