Cricket: Haq no longer the odd one out

When he first entered the Scotland dressing room almost nine years ago, Majid Haq was consumed by the fear and trepidation that inevitably engulfs the new boy.

A prodigious talent, with a crafty brand of penetrating off-break spin, he was just 19 on his international debut, a boy among men, so quietly spoken that he was drowned out even by mice.

The newcomer was intimidated. The side was filled with old hands and big characters, who washed their rowdy banter down with a frothy pint. Haq, as a practising Muslim, could not penetrate the clique. Nor did he want to. "It was definitely tough to break in for someone like me who was coming in from a different religion, when I can only eat Halal food, a lot of stuff like that which set me apart," he recalls. Now, he confirms, there is both acceptance and understanding.

Much can be attributed to a generational shift so radical that the Saltires squad which will face Surrey this afternoon in the Clydesdale Bank Pro 40 will have an average age of just 23. Haq remains a confirmed introvert but he has found his voice and is often to be seen whispering guidance and advice to those unaccustomed to the fray.

The divisions of the past have evaporated, he says. While faith and sport have never been easy companions, Haq's current stature affords him respect. "The guys in the squad are excellent," he says. "They know I don't drink or go out and party. They respect my beliefs and religion. That's a great environment to be in."

Mutual accommodation has come gradually. Haq admits that he could have made more effort to make himself understood. It was a learning process for all concerned. When Scotland went to the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, a potentially awkward cultural clash was belatedly avoided when the name of the team's beer-brewing sponsor was tactfully removed from his shirt.

Now, Haq sees no conflict between his sport and his faith, saying: "I let God help me perform. I'm quite relaxed. I don't get too hyped up. I try to lead the right life, have the right lifestyle and be my own person. I don't worry too much about what other people do."

As one of the sports with the greatest potential to attract the support of the country's Asian population, Scottish cricket has arguably not utilised Haq enough to sell itself. But you sense he would be uncomfortable as a salesman, trying to convince those who avidly support their ancestral homelands to rally instead to the Saltires' cause.

Haq, from Paisley and with an accountancy degree as his insurance policy, understands that he is, by default, a role model. "But you're your own person," he argues. "You have to be your own role model. You have to sleep easy every night. The main thing for me is to play good cricket and be part of a young, successful Scotland side."

Having needed an extended spell to establish himself, Haq has wisdom to impart to the current crop of newcomers trying to make their way, an ever more important asset in the absence of Australian import Luke Butterworth, whose broken toe keeps him out of both today's visit to The Oval and tomorrow's trip to Warwickshire.

No longer are there questions over Haq's work ethic or doubts over his commitment. The jibes over his devotion to the gym have been silenced. "I now know I can't eat a lot of rubbish," he smiles. The sweet tooth has been conquered. Well, almost. "I do enjoy chocolate. But before, I used to eat as much as I could. Now I'm more disciplined. I still want to improve my fitness. I can't quite match Simon Smith or Ritchie Berrington but I want to."

We may have yet to see the best of Haq with Saltires coach Pete Steindl having ended the sporadic experimentation over his place in the batting line-up and deciding that he'll get the greatest value from his all-rounder as the guardian of the tail. His bowling has also become more consistent. "I look to try and put in a different ball every season," he reveals. Expect "a little something" soon. "But I can't tell you what it is yet," he grins.

After losing to both Durham and Leicestershire last weekend, Scotland must utilise every trick available to avoid a fatal start to their Pro 40 campaign. A side which scored more than 220 in both games has shown promise. Small errors, lapses of concentration, must be stamped out. Haq demands nothing less. "When we get into a position to win the game, we have to close it out." No longer afraid to make himself heard, the outsider has become the totem within.