Friday, October 26, 2001 Great opening batsmen are rare; great beards are even rarer. When flashing blade and redundant razor unite in one individual it is a unique moment. You might have to double-take to recognise Shahid Afridi's opening partner when Pakistan play Sri Lanka at Sharjah tomorrow. The grace, magical wrists, and sweet timing will be all too familiar, as will the fallible lunges outside off stump -- but the face won't. Wave goodbye to Andy Garcia and say hello to Osama bin Laden (aka Saeed Anwar).

Pakistani cricketers have gone down the hairy route before. Zaheer Abbas, doyen of Pakistani batsmen before Javed Miandad, sported an unkempt number for a while. But Zed is a sensible chap and clean-shave always suited him best. Mohsin Kamal was more aggressive than your average fast-medium bowler and his beard was fittingly warrior-like. Alas, his thatch is now whiter and less fearsome.

Saeed Anwar has much of Zaheer's elegance but little of Mohsin's fire. But in bearded terms he has most in common with a little-recognised hero of Pakistan cricket: Saeed Ahmed, brother of Younis, was a dashing batsman who saved his best innings for the Caribbean.

When a Muslim sprouts a beard it is a reasonable assumption that he has been gripped by religious fervour. But most beardies that I know are jolly, tolerant fellows, contrary to bad press courtesy of the real Osama and the Taliban. Saeed Ahmed became a devout Muslim after he gave up cricket, turning his attention not to infidel but to urging fellow Muslims to follow the true path. Now Saeed Anwar is born again.

It is entirely understandable. Saeed's three-year-old daughter died in September, shortly after he had struck a Test hundred against Bangladesh. His deepening belief might give him inner peace but there could be other benefits. An expectant buzz filled Justice Bhandari's courtroom when Saeed took the stand last week. Would his spirituality compel him to spill the beans on the bad old days? Alas no. We will have to wait for the dirt on match-fixing it seems, but you sense that the truth is gnawing away inside.

Spare him a thought though when he steps out to batter Chaminda Vaas or Henry Olonga: it has been a tough year for Saeed Anwar. But also relish every flowing drive and wristy cut because, according to sources, his state of mind might be leading him out of the game prematurely. For the sake of Pakistan cricket Saeed has to stay, at least until the next World Cup.

Whether his beard does or not is between him and his god. But take it from me Saeed, the Andy Garcia look was a winner.

Born in Lahore, brought up in Rotherham, Kamran Abbasi is assistant editor of the BMJ. His Asian View appears on Wisden.com on Fridays.

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