LONDON: Australia’s Fawad Ahmed is unconcerned by the furore his move in not wearing a beer sponsor’s logo on his shirt has sparked, according to One-day International vice-captain George Bailey.
Pakistan-born leg-spinner Ahmed, who became an Australian citizen in July after his application was fast-tracked, did not have the VB beer logo on his shirt during his international debut in last week’s T20 matches against England.
It emerged on Tuesday he had “expressed discomfort with the conflict this created for him” as a Muslim for his beliefs.
Cricket Australia (CA) agreed he could wear an unbranded shirt, but this led to criticism, notably from two of Australia’s best-known sportsmen in former Test batsman Doug Walters and ex-Wallaby rugby union wing David Campese.
Walters was quoted as saying: “I think if he doesn’t want to wear the team gear, he should not be part of the team. Maybe if he doesn’t want to be paid, that’s OK.”
Campese tweeted in response: “Doug Walters tells Pakistan-born Fawad Ahmed: if you don’t like the VB uniform, don’t play for Australia. Well said Doug. Tell him to go home.”
Their comments were condemned as “bigoted” by CA chief executive James Sutherland.
Bailey said former asylum-seeker Ahmed, who added an ODI cap against Scotland in Edinburgh on Wednesday, had dealt with worrying issues in his life.
“I don’t think it’d particularly worry Fawad,” Bailey said on Saturday.
“I think he’s probably had to deal with a lot more important things than what’s on the front of his shirt.
“Fawad (has) a great sense of humour,” added Bailey before explaining how Ahmed had forged a strong bond with Australia coach Darren Lehmann.
“He and the coach have a pretty funny relationship. They like to get stuck into each other, which always provides a lot of lighthearted stuff around the group.
[Courtesy The News International]