Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja admitted that "he has contemplated not wearing the logo of Cricket Australia major sponsor VB on religious grounds, and may well do so in the future," according to Chris Barrett of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Khawaja "is the country's first Muslim Test cricketer." He said on Monday that he supported Pakistani former asylum seeker Fawad Ahmed, who, after talks with CA, "was permitted to don a playing strip without alcohol advertising during Australia's limited-overs series in England." Striving to regain his Test place, Khawaja revealed that he "had thought about also asking for dispensation not to promote the beer giant via the Australian team's uniform." But given that he is back on the fringe of the Test team, "he will wait until he is a more permanent member of the national side before seriously considering taking the stance." As Sydney Thunder announced his re-signing for this season's Big Bash League, Khawaja said, "I understand what Fawad is doing, and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it. I thought about it for this Ashes campaign. But I probably haven't been in the Australian team for long enough to worry about it too much." Another tricky logistical situation for Khawaja "would be the fact that his adopted state team, Queensland, is sponsored by XXXX Gold" (SMH, 10/22).
