Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Adil Rashid to miss India white-ball series to make Hajj pilgrimage

Written by 
Published in Cricket
Thursday, 23 June 2022 08:17
Adil Rashid will miss England's white-ball series against India and the latter stages of Yorkshire's T20 Blast campaign in order to make the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Rashid is a practicing Muslim and decided earlier this year that he had reached the right time in his life to make the pilgrimage, and has been granted leave by the ECB and Yorkshire. He flies to the Middle East on Saturday and is expected to return in mid-July, ahead of England's white-ball series against South Africa.

All adult Muslims are expected to undertake the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime, if they are physically capable and have the financial means to do so.

"I've been wanting to do it for a little while but I've found it pretty difficult with the timings," Rashid told ESPNcricinfo, speaking after an England nets session in Amstelveen during their 3-0 ODI series win against the Netherlands. "This year, I felt as though it was something that I had to do, and something I wanted to do as well.

"I spoke to the ECB and to Yorkshire about it and they were very understanding and encouraging, like: 'yep, you do what you've got to do and then come back when you can'. Me and the missus are going and I'll be there for a couple of weeks.

"It's a massive moment: each faith has got their own different thing but for Islam and being a Muslim, this is one of the biggest ones. It's a big thing for my faith and for myself. I knew that I needed to do it while I'm young and strong and healthy. This is something that I really committed to myself that I would do."

Rashid expects to miss all six limited-overs against India from July 7 to 17 but said the fixture list was not a major consideration in his decision. "It wasn't like, right, I'm playing against India - I'd better not go," he said. "That didn't really cross my mind. It was purely: right, I'm going - the decision was irrelevant of cricket, in that sense.

"All I had to do was speak to Yorkshire and England and get their go-ahead. That was very easy and they were very understanding. To have that backing from your county and from your country, it feels like a big boost."

Rashid credited Eoin Morgan and the England hierarchy with creating a "very supportive" environment for him and his Muslim team-mates Moeen Ali and Saqib Mahmood. "Everyone in the dressing room respects our faith massively, and they've got a good understanding of it now with myself and Moeen around," he said.

"It's very easy for us to be who we are in the dressing room, on and off the pitch, around the boys because they're so understanding. A lot of credit goes to England for making that environment very easy - not just for myself and Mo, but for other people.

"It's about having that support for people coming in and making them feel comfortable - like they can be themselves, that there's no pressure around doing certain things and that everybody is understanding of it and respectful.

"We're all from different backgrounds and different countries - it's a very diverse team - but everyone gets along and respects each other massively. That's a big credit to Morgs for making that environment, and to the hierarchy."

Rashid's absence is likely to give Matt Parkinson an opportunity to play in the limited-overs series against India, after he made his Test debut against New Zealand earlier this month as a concussion replacement for Jack Leach.

Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98

Read 135 times

Soccer

Weah sets up decider as Juve reach Coppa final

Weah sets up decider as Juve reach Coppa final

A late goal by striker Arkadiusz Milik -- assisted by United States attacker Timothy Weah -- sent Ju...

Sources: Liverpool consider Slot to replace Klopp

Sources: Liverpool consider Slot to replace Klopp

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLiverpool have identified Feyenoord coach Arne Slot as a leading ca...

Source: WCup winner Giroud signs deal with LAFC

Source: WCup winner Giroud signs deal with LAFC

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAC Milan striker Olivier Giroud has signed a deal to join LAFC from...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Injured Zion: Playoff return 'definitely realistic'

Injured Zion: Playoff return 'definitely realistic'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOKLAHOMA CITY -- More than an hour after the New Orleans Pelicans'...

Police eye Jokic's brother for reported fan punch

Police eye Jokic's brother for reported fan punch

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDENVER -- The NBA and Denver police are looking into an incident in...

Baseball

Hendricks to IL; Cubs' focus is injury, then pitching

Hendricks to IL; Cubs' focus is injury, then pitching

EmailPrintCHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs placed struggling right-hander Kyle Hendricks on the injured l...

Rangers' Scherzer set to make rehab start Wed.

Rangers' Scherzer set to make rehab start Wed.

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer is set...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated