Former Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf has credited his spectacular performance in 2006 to his conversion to Islam a year before. He started his international career as Yousuf Youhana and was the fourth Christian after Wallis Mathias, Antao D’Souza and Duncan Sharpe to play for Pakistan.
In 2004, Yousuf became the first non-Muslim player to captain Pakistan. However, a year later, he decided to convert to Islam and adopted the Islamic name, Mohammad Yousuf. His wife, Tania, converted too and changed her name to Fatima.
Following his conversion, Mohammad Yousuf had a brilliant season in 2016, amassing 1,788 runs at a stunning average of 99.33. His “purple patch” in 2006 helped him break the legendary Viv Richards’ record of most Test runs in a calendar year.
Also, Mohammad Yousuf equalled the record held by former Australian batsman Sir Donald Bradman, by scoring six centuries in successive Tests. Yousuf, during a recent interaction on Wisden.com, opened up on the period of his international cricket, right after he converted to Islam.
Saeed Anwar inspired my conversion to Islam: Mohammad Yousuf
Yousuf revealed that he was not forced to change his religion. He also said that he was inspired by his ‘close’ friend and former teammate Saeed Anwar who turned to religion after his daughter’s death. The 46-year-old also stated how he felt at peace with himself after involving himself in religious practices.
“I wasn’t forced to convert to Islam as some have alleged and tried to suggest. The reality is that I was very close to Saeed Anwar. We were great friends on and off the field and had played a lot of cricket together in our teenage years.
“I spent so much time with Saeed that his parents regarded me as their own son. When I was at their house, I could see the sort of peaceful and disciplined life his parents led and that really intrigued me,” he said.
“I had observed Saeed Anwar’s life before he became religious and how that changed when Saeed had the personal tragedy of the death of his daughter. Saeed turning to religion was an inspiration and the turning point for me that lead to my conversion to Islam,” he added.
“I did nothing different when it came to training or practice in 2006. Towards the end of 2005, I had converted to Islam and had read Islamic prayers for the first time. I then grew a beard and I felt at peace with myself, very calm and mentally ready for any challenge that came my way.
“I’ve always felt that my brilliant performance in 2006 was a reward from The Almighty after my conversion to Islam.”
you were coerced by Inzamam and his lengthy prayer sessions. you left the love and mercy of Lord Jesus christ for an enforced set of rules