Harbhajan Singh expressed his displeasure on social media regarding a story shared by former Pakistan skipper Inzamam Ul Haq. In an interview gaining attraction on the internet, Inzamam narrated an incident where he claimed Harbhajan was impressed with Maulana Tariq Jameel and considered converting to Islam. According to Inzamam, they had a room for prayers, and after Tariq Jameel’s visits, Irfan Pathan, Mohammad Kaif, and Zaheer Khan joined. Inzamam alleged that Harbhajan, unaware of Tariq Jameel’s background, expressed interest in following his teachings.
Harbhajan heatedly denied this story on social media, asserting his identity as a proud Sikh.
Inzamam, also claimed in a subsequent video that went viral that he and his teammate Saqlain Mushtaq attempted to convert English and foreign players to Islam for the club where they played. In one of the films, he further stated that they had talked to West Indies icon Brian Lara about converting to Islam.
Separately, the ongoing conflict between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq escalated, leading to the acceptance of Inzamam’s resignation amid conflict of interest allegations. The PCB officially announced the acceptance of Inzamam-ul-Haq’s resignation from the positions of chairman of the national men’s selection committee and junior selection committee. Inzamam had voluntarily stepped down on October 30 to allow for a transparent inquiry into the conflict of interest allegations. The PCB statement mentioned their intention to announce his replacement in due course.