February 13, 2008	Wednesday	Safar 05, 1429

SYDNEY, Feb 12: A Pakistan-born player is in line to become the first Muslim to play first-class cricket in Australia when he plays for New South Wales in their top-of-the-table match with Victoria here on Friday.

Usman Khawaja, the 21-year-old son of Pakistani immigrants, has been named for the first time in a sport traditionally dominated here by Anglo-Saxons.

“There are a lot of guys out there and a lot of young cricketers and a lot of subcontinental people in Australia too now,” Usman said on Tuesday. “So I expect over time there to be a lot more multicultural teams.”

His selection comes a month after a furious row about race and sportsmanship exploded during the Sydney Test between Australia and India.

But Usman, who came to Australia when he was four, said he had not encountered any problems on the field because of his background.

“I have never come across anything that could be classified as racial vilification, so it is pretty good I think, and I have played club cricket for over seven years now full time and no problems,” he said.

In Sydney club cricket this season, Usman tops the batting figures, with 907 runs at 60.47. He has been invited to the Australian Sports Institute’s Cricket Centre of Excellence.

—AFP