Adil Rashid will miss England’s white-ball series against India after being allowed to make the holy pilgrimage to Mecca.
Hajj is an annual visit to the holy city of Saudi Arabia that all Muslims with material and financial means must perform once in a lifetime.
Rashid found it difficult to make the pilgrimage due to schedule and commitments, but the leg-spinner and his wife will travel later this week after receiving the green light from the Yorkshire and England and Wales Cricket Board.
Adil Rashid visits Saudi Arabia this weekend (Zack Goodwin/PA)
(PA file)
The 34-year-old will miss Vitality Blast’s Yorkshire and England Twenty20 games and some of the one-day internationals against India, but said it felt like a “huge boost” to get such support from the county and the country. Happened.
Rashid told ESPNcricinfo, “I’ve wanted to do it for a while, but I found it very difficult with the schedule.
“This year I felt that this is something I have to do and something I want to do too.
“I talked to the ECB and Yorkshire about it and they were very understanding and encouraging, like, ‘Yeah, you do what you have to do and then come back when you can.
“Me and the mistress are leaving and I’ll be there for a few weeks.
“It’s a huge moment: each religion has its own point of view, but being Islam and a Muslim, this is the biggest.
“It’s a big thing for my faith and for me. I knew I needed to do this when I was young and strong and healthy. It’s something I’m really committed to doing.”
