Name changes have become increasingly common in recent times, often due to individuals converting from one religion to another. Along with religious conversions, there are various other reasons why people may choose to change their names. This process sometimes requires the approval of family members, who may not always agree at first. Changing one’s name is also seen in fields like sports, including cricket. Over the years, several cricketers have opted to change their names for various reasons.
Mohammad Yousuf
In September 2005, Pakistan batsman Yousuf Youhana, who had been the only Christian in Pakistan’s national cricket team, converted to Islam. Following his conversion, he chose to adopt the name Mohammad Yousuf. His wife, Fatima, also converted alongside him, but they kept the details private for family reasons. Yousuf shared that his conversion was a personal decision, influenced by his participation in preaching sessions of Tablighi Jamaat, a prominent non-political religious group in Pakistan. His former teammate, Saeed Anwar, was also a member of this group.
Asghar Afghan
In August 2018, former Afghanistan cricket captain Asghar Afghan made the decision to change his name. Previously known as Asghar Stanikzai, the Kabul-born batsman adopted the surname “Afghan” to reflect his national pride. He expressed that it was his duty as an Afghan to uphold and protect the country’s national identity. The change was officially recognized when he registered for Afghanistan’s new Electronic National Identity Cards (E-tazkira), and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced the change publicly via their Twitter account.
Tilakaratne Dilshan
In 1999, Sri Lankan cricketer Tillakaratne Dilshan made the decision to follow the Buddhist faith. Born in 1976 into a Muslim family as Tuwan Mohammad Dilshan, his father was from the Malay Muslim community. After his parents separated, Dilshan chose to embrace Buddhism, the religion of his mother. His initials, which originally stood for Tuwan Mohammad, changed to Tillakaratne Mudiyanselage to reflect his Buddhist identity. Dilshan’s childhood coach, Ranjan Paranavitana, mentioned that despite having a Muslim name, Dilshan and his siblings followed their mother’s Buddhist beliefs from an early age.
Jos Buttler
England’s white-ball cricket captain, Jos Buttler, changed his name after being called by the wrong one for over 30 years. On April 1, 2024, the England Cricket Board posted a video on Instagram where Buttler officially announced his name change. In the video, Buttler explained that, for years, people mistakenly called him “Josh” instead of “Jos,” leading to years of confusion. To end the mix-up, he decided to officially change his name to Jos Buttler.
Axar Patel
Indian cricketer Axar Patel, known for his all-round skills, revealed during a 2022 appearance on the popular show “Breakfast With Champions” that his name is actually “Axar,” but it is pronounced “Akshar.” He explained that the change in spelling from “Akshar” to “Axar” happened during his early days at a U19 cricket camp in Bangalore, before the World Cup.