How Pakistani cricketers are spending Ramadan in New Zealand

Pakistan’s cricketers are currently experiencing a major slump in form. After an embarrassing exit from the ICC Champions Trophy which the country recently hosted, the national team went to New Zealand where it crashed back-to-back defeats in the opening two-games of the five-match Twenty20 International series against the hosts.

Now they are in a do-or-die situation and have to win Friday’s third T20I game in Auckland.

So, what’s the mood like in the Pakistani camp?

Well, according to sources, the players remain upbeat and one of the reasons behind is the fact they are having sehris and iftaris together during the holy month of Ramadan.

Team that prays together stays together

The team also prays together. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed acts as a prayer leader of the team during namaz.

Nukta has highly reliably learnt that Abrar, who is Hafiz-e-Quran, is the Imam of the team which is currently in Auckland.

However, the azaan is recited by different cricketers including Abrar, Shadab Khan, Sufyan Muqeem and Usman Khan.

It has been learnt that players do their iftar with dates, fruits, salad and if a Pakistani option is available, samosas are also being consumed.

In sehri, the cricketers find multiple things like fresh fruit juices, omelets, boiled eggs, porridge, fruits, halal chicken, milk, coffee and tea.

Shaheen Afridi with the bat in the second T20I against New Zealand in DunedinAFP

Due to little or no halal options in five-star hotels, the cricketers have to seek for outside eating options.

After the T20I series both team will meet in the three-match One-day International series. While Salman Ali Agha is leading Pakistan in the ongoing T20I contest, Mohammad Rizwan will captain Pakistan in the ODI series.

Nine cricketers, who will join the Pakistan team ahead of the ODI series, have already started their pre-departure training at Lahore. The ODI series will be held from March 29 to April 5.