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Press Releases
Top Pakistan cricketers join ex-pop star to celebrate Ramadan on the Asian Network
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91Èȱ¬ Asian Network's special programming for Ramadan (24 September to 24 October) includes three high-profile cricketers from Pakistan and ex-pop star Junaid Jamshed.
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Pakistani cricket star Mohammed Yousuf (formerly known as Yousuf Youhana), former opening batsman Saeed Anwar and the off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq will appear on the hour-long Ramadan special during the Muslim holy month.
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Ramadan with Junaid Jamshed will broadcast every day from 4.00am, starting 24 September, coinciding with the Sehri time (the last meal before dawn).
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Junaid will also give his reflections on the day's fast on Gagan Grewal on the Asian Network from 7.00 to 8.00pm and on Adil Ray from 4.00 to 7.00pm every day.
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Soon after the recently concluded one day series against England, Yousuf gave the Asian Network a rare half-hour long interview, speaking for the first time about his conversion to Islam.The full interview will go out on the daily Hindi/Urdu show Gagan Grewal from 7.00 to 8.00pm on Friday 20 October.
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Yousuf said: "Since I have become a Muslim, my heart feels at ease. First I was unsettled, but Allah gave me everything."
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"There were no material things in the world that I didn't have, including money and fame. Now I have inner peace," he added.
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The 31-year-old, who's become the most dependable middle order batsman in the Pakistani side, revealed his switch from Christianity in 2005.
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He was the only Christian in the team, and says he converted to Islam after attending preaching sessions by a leading religious group called Tableeghi Jama'at.
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Tableeghi Jama'at is a group within Sunni Muslims which undertake religious journeys across the world to propagate the teachings of Islam to fellow Muslims.
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Yousuf says: "The atmosphere that prevailed in the dressing room in the past was of disobedience to Allah. But Alhamdolillah (thank God) now every member of the team offers Namaz (prayers) five times a day, in a group.
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"This change has come about largely because people got associated with Tableeghi Jama'at," he added.
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The first member of the Pakistan cricket team to get involved with Tableeghi Jama'at was Saeed Anwar, who began leading a religious lifestyle after the tragic death of his daughter in 2001.
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Junaid Jamshed was one of Pakistan's most popular musical artists when he ended his career as a pop star in 2003 to lead a more spiritual life.
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He initially rocketed to fame in 1987 with the patriotic song Dil Dil Pakistan as the lead singer of Pakistan's first ever pop band, Vital Signs.
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The singer talks about his journey from pop stardom to what he calls his religious enlightenment.
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PL
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