MINA, 2 January 2007 — Current and former cricketing legends Mohammad Yousuf, Waqar Younus, Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi and Rashid Latif were all here for Haj not only praying for themselves but also for the well-being of Pakistani cricket.

“Of course, it is everybody’s wish that Pakistan will win 2007 World Cup Cricket Championship that begins in the West Indies on March 13,” said Jalaluddin, former medium pacer of Pakistan, who is part of the Haj group that includes the other Pakistani cricketers.

Yousuf, who officially changed his name from Yousuf Youhana to Mohammad Yousuf as part of his conversion to Islam three years ago, was the cynosure of all eyes at Haj Camp No. 9.

Dressed in off-white Pakistani dress, a modest and unassuming Yousuf was seen crying at an evocative speech by Tariq Jameel, a preacher from Lahore who reminded the congregation of the message and meaning of Haj.

“Yousuf is a hero,” said Jalaluddin. “So it is natural that he is the center of attraction.”

The sport stars seemed rightly more interested in the pilgrimage than to talking to the press or being photographed.

“I have been told not to speak to the media,” said Yousuf. “My only focus is Haj,” he added before giving this Arab News correspondent a warm hug.

The cricket players were shy of discussing anything at their camp in Mina.

“We will talk cricket later,” one of them said. “We are here to seek God’s mercy and forgiveness. At Arafat we prayed for the overall improvement of the game in Pakistan.”

Born on Aug. 27, 1974, Yousuf has been a member of the Pakistani national team since 1998. He converted to Islam in 2005, and in 2006 set a world record for the most Test runs by a batsman in a single calendar year.

He has scored over 7,000 ODI runs at an average of 41.01 (third highest batting average among Pakistani batsmen after Zaheer Abbas and Javed Miandad) and over 6,000 Test runs at an average of 56.65 (highest batting average amongst all Pakistani batsmen) with 23 Test centuries.

Cricket enthusiasts rate him as the best batsman in the world. Yousuf, they say, is known for his ability to score runs at exceptional rate through his great technique and composed stroke play. Ever since his conversion to Islam, he is known for his characteristic celebration after hitting a century: prostrating in thankfulness to God in the direction of Kaaba.

Jalaluddin, who was performing the Haj for the first time, said: “The Haj has taught us the virtues of patience. We read all about the rituals. We even saw them on television. But nothing prepares you for this journey. You have to experience it yourself.”

The former Pakistani cricketer had the distinction of recording Pakistan’s first One-Day hat trick against Australia in Hyderabad in 1982.

He said Yousuf’s father died while he was performing the pilgrimage.

“He was composed and very dignified. He is a great human being,” said Jalaluddin. “May God give him the strength to overcome this tragedy.”

Jalaluddin said cricket is more than just a game in Pakistan. “And so its well-being was in the foreground in our minds when we were praying at the holy sites,” he said.

Waqar Younus, the most lethal fast bowler in the world until recently, was also part of the group, led by the Tabligh Jamaat. The cricketers came through the Al-Khair Group, which were described as the most organized Haj tour operators in Pakistan.