Just goes to show that even our government will fast track a Muslim for citizenship to enable him to play for Australia.

It's too late now to change the rules, whether we wish to or not.

It's the price we pay for being so competitive that even our government will join in to do whatever it takes to get the best players in any Aussie sport on our teams.

Ahmed can thank our political leaders for his good fortune. Maybe he should think of this when he gets on his high horse, and remember we are a multiracial nation rather than a multicultural one.
Reading the polls indicates that a large majority of Aussies quite rightly want it to remain this way. As Australian citizens our country and way of life should be both accepted and respected by all those wishing to live here. If they can't accept that they shouldn't come here. Like all other countries, we have a certain way of life that we expect migrants to embrace, and don't want this changed to their way because of religion. We keep religion and politics separate, and so should all prospective newcomers.

Cultural customs in the privacy of our homes should also be respected, but when a high profile sportsman displays his demands for his religion to be accepted in sport it demonstrates that this is obviously acceptable if his demands are met. The wedge is now in. What comes next I wonder?

He however, has the choice not to play the game at all if he has such strong feelings about what he can or can't do or wear. Maybe this should be the solution?

worldwatcher,

"Like all other countries, we have a certain way of life that we expect migrants to embrace, and don't want this changed to their way because of religion."

What a joke.

Does that include adorning oneself with booze logos.

Yeah, we're a people of considerable depth.....Lol!

Worldwatcher,
Are you sure the government is fast tracking this persons for citizenship or has done so?

To me that would be a greater abuse than him not wanting to wear the sponsors logo.

Like Doug Walters said, if he won't wear the official uniform, he should not be on the team. Similarly if he does not really qualify for citizenship he should not be on the team.

I don't care who he is or what he is.

Poirot, "Does that include adorning oneself with booze logos"

The Australian government proudly wears wine labels. You are obviously unaware that the federal and all State governments put taxpayers' money into supporting the wine industry. Or what is more likely, you flip and flop to suit your prejudices. Here, from the Wine Australia website,

<Welcome to the Wine Australia website. As the Australian Government agency responsible for providing strategic support to the wine industry, Wine Australia offers a range of services and insights to help the wine industry make informed business decisions, protect the reputation of Australian wine, remove market access barriers and grow demand for Australian wine globally>

http://www.wineaustralia.com/

Maybe as a 'Progressive' you figure yourself to be a cut above the beer drinking herd and buy $20+ bottle tipple instead.

Then again, maybe you would might demand a 'multiculturally sensitive' federal government that doesn't recognise grape growers and wine producers. All towards that diversity-we-have-to-have, eh what?

There many of different faiths and non-faith groupswho do not support the promotion of alcohol. It seems quite reasonable to me for a cricketer to be able to play the sport without having to wear a beer company logo. For some time Google did not accept advertising promoting "hard liquor". It would seem reasonable to have limties on the advertising of alcohol, particularly when children are viewing: http://blog.tomw.net.au/2011/12/converging-media-and-internet-rules.html

It depends on what the player's contract says. Presuming that no-one would sign up without advising the club and negotiating a change up-front where the terms of the contract are not to his liking.