5 Cricketers who refused to sport alcohol logos on their jersey

Playing for the country is the ultimate dream for any cricketer. However, the advent of the T20 format has led to so many leagues being played across the world. Not that any particular player never played for any other team apart from his own country. A lot of cricketers still get signed up to play County cricket.

Now every team, may it be at the international level or in the leagues or domestic level, is sponsored by some or the other brand and the players are entitled to wear those jerseys only. However, in some cases, an alcohol brand is the sponsor of some of the teams and certain players refuse to promote them.

There have been instances when the likes of Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali have backed out from their team celebrations as they use champagnes and alcohol is banned in their religion. Similarly, some of the cricketers have stayed put to their ideologies and have refused to don the jerseys with alcohol logos on it.

Here we bring you 5 players who refused to sport alcohol logos on jersey

1. Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla is the first name which comes to the mind in such cases. He was the best in the business during the first few years of his playing days. When Castle Lager, the flagship product of South African Breweries, was the sponsor of the South Africa cricket team, Amla had refused to don the jersey.

Rather it was reported then that the cricketer has sacrificed the part of his match fee for not promoting the alcoholic product. Keeping in mind his religious values, even the Castle Lager permitted Amla, as an exception, to not sport their logo on his jersey.

Every time Amla took the field, the logo of the company went missing from his jersey even as the other players wore and promoted it. The leg-spinner Imran Tahir also followed his footsteps later.

2. Faheem Ashraf

Faheem Ashraf was signed up by Northamptonshire last year to play in the T20 Blast, England’s premier T20 competition. Ashraf, like many Pakistan cricketers, is a devout follower of Islam and strictly follows the laws adhered to it. Consuming or touching alcohol is prohibited in his religion.

Accordingly, he informed the Northamptonshire management that he won’t be wearing the jersey with the alcohol company’s logo. Northamptonshire is primarily sponsored by the alocholic beverage company, the India Pale Ale. Its logo is printed on the centre part of the jersey and Faheem clearly denied to wear it.

However, the issue was later settled as the county team allowed him to wear the jersey without the logo on it. Faheem Ashraf went on to play 11 matches for the team and fared really well picking up 11 wickets also becoming the joint-highest wicket-taker of the season for his team.

Welldone Faheem Ashraf.#CRICKET pic.twitter.com/saZgXukWPU

— Muhammad Noman (@Nomancricket29) August 1, 2019

3. Azhar Ali

Azhar Ali, the current Pakistan Test captain, has also denied wearing the team jersey with the alcohol company’s logo on it before. During the county season last year, Somerset signed him to play a few matches. However, he decided not to go against his religious beliefs.

Soon after joining the team, he informed Somerset that he won’t be wearing their jersey which is sponsored by Tribute Ale. The company is the official beer, title partner and shirt sponsor of the county cricket club.

Azhar Ali’s move was spotted when his jersey was without the ‘Tribute’ logo in the team picture. And like other cases, even his views were respected by the team. As for his stint with the team, it wasn’t as memorable as Azhar mustered only 344 runs in 16 innings at an average of 24.57 with three half-centuries.

4. Imad Wasim

The Carribean Premier League (CPL) is usually the party time in the West Indies. The Carribean people, and the cricketers, enjoy the period a lot as the T20 extravaganza allow them to enjoy to the hilt. And it goes without saying that the alcohol companies look to make the most of it by sponsoring the teams.

Accordingly, in 2016, Jamaica Tallwahs who were led by Chris Gayle were sponsored by Appleton Estate’, a rum company and the logo of the same was printed at the centre of the jersey. In the same season, Imad Wasim was picked by the franchise.

This was the all-rounder’s first ever overseas T20 league appearance but the cricketer didn’t go against his religious beliefs and refused to wear the jersey with the logo on it. And during the matches, it was seen that he donned the team jersey with the logo missing on it.

5. Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan has been the sensation across the world thanks to his exceptional leg-spin bowling. He is also the one who has refused to wear the jersey with the logo of the alcohol company before. The Adelaide Strikers signed him in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the first time in the 2017-18 season.

And since then, he has been playing for the same franchise. However, during his debut season for the team, the Strikers’ main sponsors were ‘West End’ the South Australian brewer of beer which was founded in 1859.

While he turned out to be the best bowler for the team and in the competition, Rashid Khan didn’t endorse the alcohol company and wore the jersey without its logo on it. He went on to pick 18 wickets in 11 matches in the season as the Strikers went on to win the tournament.