Southampton: South Africa cricketers Hashim Amla and Imran Tahir attended Eid prayers at a Southampton mosque on Tuesday ahead of their team’s crucial World Cup clash against India.
The two players were warmly greeted by fellow worshippers, with selfie-seekers making a beeline to grab a photo with them.
Both players are veterans in the South Africa side, who have lost their two opening matches at the World Cup in England and Wales.
The 40-year-old Tahir, a Pakistan-born leg-spinner, is set to quit one-day-internationals after the tournament.
Top-order batsman Amla, 36, missed the team’s second World Cup game against Bangladesh on Sunday after being hit on the head in the tournament opener against England.
Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar, a member of the elite panel of International Cricket Council umpires, also accompanied the South Africa players for Eid prayers.
The Islamic festival of Eid marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan but rather than join in with the traditional feasting and celebrations, both players headed to a net session from the mosque.
South Africa are in desperate need of a victory on Wednesday after their two defeats, while Virat Kohli’s highly fancied India will be keen to start their bid for a third World Cup triumph with a victory.
The tournament features 10 teams, who all play each other to determine the four semi-finalists.
[source_without_link]Agence France-Presse[/source_without_link]