Adil Najam
Given all the discussion about cricket and Islam (here), sooner or later we will come to beards and cricket and whether beards of a certain length or style are ‘religiously intimidating’ for some (related story here).
I thought I would pre-empt the discussion by sharing some images of a few ‘great beards’ of cricket. Readers are, of course, welcome to add to the list.
For that it seems to me that the obvious choice is one of Pakistan’s most graceful batsmen ever (and that is saying something!) Saeed Anwar. He is also generally considered a mentor to many of the more religiously inclined players in the current Pakistan team.
His, however, is not the only set of religiously motivated set of facial hair to adorn cricketing fields. One of my all-time favorite cricketers and all-time favorite famous persons is former Indian Captain Bishen Singh Bedi. His fine-looking facial hair and head-dress - and of many others - were also clearly religiously-motivated and a constant expression of his faith.
By way of disclosure I should add that I occasionally sprout facial hair of my own but am mostly clean-shaven. But as a deep and committed adherent of people’s right of expression (how can a blogger not be that!) I stand committed to defend people’s right to facial hair, whether they are grown for stylistic elegance or religious expression.
Adnan Siddiqi sahib,
Some time ago,when I read your comments on the ATP and then looked up your blog.I noticed you had a slight beard.Today when i opened it again i noticed you have shaved off your beard.Is it the influence of the discussion you guys had on ”The Great Beard Of Cricket.
Sosan
Can someone please confirm if this is the same Adil Najam who used to be a cricket reporter for ‘The Muslim’ and then a compere on PTV shows?
Seems like the 2nd test v. WI is heading to a draw, so Pak still up by 1.
Why do you always raise the controversial things about Pakistan and Islam instead of propagating what is good about them?
At least we are finally performing better on the ground with the West Indies. Once we do that, maybe we will begin focussing more on the game itself.
Well said Haroon. Everyone should have teh freedom to do what they want as long as they do not interfere with anyone else’s freedoms.
As long as the beards do not interfere with their performance, why should I worry? I have no right to tell anyone to take off their beards just as those with beards have no right to ask me to grown one.
Well, it looks like the beards have almost burnt themselves out. I mean the debate on beards, that is. As my last contribution to this discussion let me share with you what Ahmad Faraz once said on the subject of beards. (We have had enough of Iqbal.)
I accidentally met him at a reception at the Air Force Club in Islamabad a couple of years ago. When the guests were having tea and busy chatting with each other, Faraz, a bohemian like most poets, lighted a cigarette in what was a totally non-smoking environment. The plumes of smoke from his cigarette were met by raised eyebrows in the hall but no one said anything. I quietly approached him just to shake his hand, but then out of sheer “masti� I said to him something to the effect that anyone would locate him in a crowd even if he were not smoking. The immediate reply by a clean shaven Faraz was: main do cheezaiN nahiN chorr sakta. Cigarette aur Darrhi ! [I cannot “leave� two things --- cigarette and beard!]