South African Cricketer Wayne Parnell converts to Islam

South African fast bowler Wayne Parnell announced his conversion to Islam from Christianity, Times of India reported on Friday.

Parnell confirmed in the statement that he has been studying about Islam and will celebrate his 22nd birthday as a Muslim on Friday.

The South African cricket team manager, a Muslim by faith, Mohamed Moosajee said:

“Wayne already decided a few months ago to follow Islam. The decision to convert was his own decision.”

He is the second Christian cricketer to have converted to Islam after Pakistan’s Yousuf Yohana (now Mohammad Yousuf) in 2006.