Top 5 Cricketers Who Changed Their Religion

Religious beliefs play a significant role in the lives of many, including cricketers. On the field, players often display their faith through actions like praying after scoring a century or bowing in gratitude. However, there have been instances where cricketers have made the personal decision to change their religion. Here are five cricketers who took such a bold step.

1. Tillakaratne Dilshan
Tillakaratne Dilshan is from Sri Lanka, where he was born to a father who practiced Islam and a mother who followed Buddhism. He was called Tuwan Mohammed Dilshan initially but later changed the name to Tillakaratne Mudiyanselage Dilshan after embracing Buddhism following his country's international debut in 1999. He was involved in an on-field incident when the Pakistani player, Ahmed Shahzad, told the world that he would ascend to heaven if he returned to Islam.

2. Mohammad Yousuf
Pakistan's former cricketer Mohammad Yousuf, formerly Yousuf Youhana, had been in the news headlines in the mid-2000s when he converted to Islam from Christianity. He said that this decision had come after he attended some of the preaching sessions of one of the most powerful religious organizations in Pakistan. He had undergone a full transformation, even sporting a long beard.

3. Suraj Randiv
Another convert is Sri Lanka's Suraj Randiv, a former limited-overs player. Born Mohammed Marsuk Suraj, the religious change was not made public, and he adopted a Buddhist identity. Many remember him for his no-ball against India's Virender Sehwag, which denied him his century.

4. Wayne Parnell
South African all-rounder Wayne Parnell converted to Islam on July 30, 2011. His conversion was reportedly influenced by his close friendship with teammate Hashim Amla, although the South African team manager clarified that no one pressured Parnell into changing his faith.

5. Mahmudul Hasan
Mahmudul Hasan, a cricketer from Bangladesh, gained attention for his conversion from Islam to Hinduism. After changing his name to Vikash Ranjan Das, Hasan's career went downhill, as he was never selected for the national team again. His only Test appearance came before his conversion.