Cricket Australia have agreed to a request from Ashes prospect Fawad Ahmed not to wear the logo of a beer sponsor on his playing shirt due to his Muslim faith.
CA support Ahmed logo request
The Pakistani-born refugee did not wear the logo of brewing company VB on his shirt during his international debut in last week's T20 matches against England.
According to Fairfax Media Ahmed "expressed discomfort" at displaying the logo on religious grounds.
Executive general manager of operations Mike McKenna said CA were respectful of Fawad's personal beliefs.
“Following Fawad’s selection in the Australia A squad to tour the British Isles in June Cricket Australia spoke with him in regards to the VB branding of the team kit. Fawad expressed discomfort with the conflict this created for him, due to his religious beliefs.
“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 permitted not to wear the logo of Cricket South Africa sponsor Castle, a beer company, on his playing kit.
"I'm certainly no saint but the discipline of the Islamic way of life has helped my cricket without a doubt," Amla told ESPN in an interview.
"I don't drink and I pray five times a day, which gives stability to my daily routine and I am generally more disciplined about my game and my life."
In July Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse pulled out of the English Premier League club's pre-season training camp in Portugal due to a disagreement over sponsor Wonga's logo.
Cisse refused to promote the money-lending company on religious grounds.
But he has since donned a Newcastle shirt with the logo after talks with the club and his Islamic teachers.
Legspinner Ahmed impressed in his second T20 match for Australia, ripping some big turning leg breaks and displaying a good wrong `un as he picked up 3-25 from his allotted four overs in Australia's 27-run loss that squared the two-match series at a game a piece.
The 31-year-old is considered a possibility to make his Test debut in the return Ashes series in Australia starting in Brisbane on November 21.