Wrong 'un who has turned out to be spun gold
James Root in The Observer carries out an in-depth interview with Mushtaq Ahmed where he talks about the importance that religion has in his life.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
James Root in The Observer carries out an in-depth interview with Mushtaq Ahmed where he talks about the importance that religion has in his life.
My religion has helped me big time It makes me disciplined. Now I don't think of tomorrow, I think for today. I used to take five wickets in a day and worry about tomorrow rather than enjoy it. I don't feel under pressure to perform any more.
People have no idea what Islam is about because of the media's negativity. If people read the Koran they would see a different message. If I do something wrong it doesn't mean Islam is wrong. Don't believe that Islam is the religion that makes people do these things. Islam says if you kill one man, you kill mankind.
Nick Bratt, who skippered him when he played league cricket in Staffordshire, hints at a different side to the old Mushtaq:
I think he got to a period in his life when he felt that things had to change and he found Allah … Mushy told us about some wild nights but he can tell you more about that than I can.
Martin Williamson is executive editor of ESPNcricinfo and managing editor of ESPN Digital Media in Europe, the Middle East and Africa