Pakistan to keep religion private

The Pakistan team pray together during the summer tour to England

The new Pakistan Cricket Board chairman has told the national team to stop exhibiting religious beliefs in public.

Dr Nasim Ashraf is concerned about a perception that players will only be picked if they are devout Muslims.

And he has discussed the matter with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who is currently serving a ban from the game.

"I have told him clearly that there should be no pressure on players who don't pray regularly or any compulsion on them to do it," Ashraf commented.

"He has assured me there is no pressure on anyone to do anything they don't want to do."

The importance of religion to the Pakistan team has grown in recent years.

And batsman Mohammad Yousuf, a former Christian, made headlines in 2005 when he revealed his conversion to Islam.

There should be no perception among players that if they don't pray they will not be in the team Dr Nasim Ashraf Have Your Say

It resulted in him being publicly disowned by his mother, but he has been in prolific form for Pakistan since then.

"I had money and fame but I was restless," he explained.

"At the end of the day I would wonder what kind of a life this was. It was too superficial."

Ashraf said he accepted religious faith was a motivating factor for the national team.

"It binds them together - but there should be balance between religion and cricket," he added.