“Their curry’s are so fresh tasting by far wish I had tried this place sooner. If you have a sweet tooth you have to try the galub jamun! The fact this place has been around since the 70s says it all. Take away only this time.” That’s a review from the website Trip Advisor about a restaurant named ‘Raja’ at Paisley in Scotland.

It used to be owned by the family of Majid Haq, Scotland’s offspinner, until they leased it out five years ago. Majid used to work in the weekends there, and says one of the reasons for him not getting a contract with Warwickshire, a few years ago, was due to his love for food. “Those curries man, how can one stay away from them?!”

Record setter

On Monday, as he finished his 10-over spell and grabbed a wicket, his 59th, the loudspeakers beeped out congratulations for becoming the highest wicket-taker for Scotland. He took his cap from the umpire, lifted it a touch, and had a shy smile as he walked away to a generous applause towards his fielding spot.

Haq’s grandfather hails from the town of the other Haq, Multan in Pakistan. His grandfather moved to Yorkshire in the 1950s and his father joined him in ten years. The grandfather used to work in a textile mill factory and both eventually moved to paisley, outskirts of Glasgow, around 40 years or so where they set up the restaurant. Haq was born in Scotland but says he has deep connection with Pakistan. At least he used to.

“When I was younger, I used to follow Pakistan team more passionately and go through the highs and lows, joy and huge disappointment. As you get older, I think you sort of feel more Scottish.” Haq was disappointed when he heard that the tennis player Andy Murray didn’t respond to cricket scotland’s request for a good-luck message to the cricket team for this world cup. “It was quite disappointing, Andy is a busy guy but you would expect him to send his good wishes. I hope he didn’t get the message rather than ignoring us. That’s not good.”

He voted ‘No’ at the Scottish referendum, choosing to stay with UK. Just like his captain Preston Mommsen, then. “I saw both arguments but in the end some questions were unanswered by the government. What will be our currency and what about the health care plans? I wasn’t sure that the move to become independent could be good for our economy and so I voted No.”

Haq, 32 years and single, lives with his family and speaks Punjabi-Urdu with his folks. “Not like the new generation kids!”A big fan of Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla (“Good actress and cute!”), he was the only Pakistani kid in his year at “mainly white” schools and says he has a few good Scottish friends. He never got bullied at school; being a good sportsman helped. “I was the school champion in Badminton and table tennis as well and I guess I was pretty lucky!” When he goes back to Pakistan, which he used to do pretty often, the relatives back home used to make fun of his Scottish accent.

Life after cricket

He worked as an accountant for six months in 2008 before turning full time towards cricket, he says. “That’s something I can go back to after cricket but I will have to re-start from the bottom. That’s a bit of concern. So, I am also thinking about becoming an international umpire but I got to do those exams and clear.”

Umpiring eh? So what did you think of the Saeed Ajmal lbw appeal against Sachin Tendulkar that was overthrown by DRS in the 2011 world cup? Haq shakes his head. “How on earth that was shown to be missing the leg stump? No way it was doing that. I couldn’t believe it. Such an important wicket too. Even in this World Cup, with that Umar Akmal dismissal. The snicko didn’t show anything!”

So much passion and thought you were Scottish at heart?! “Well, it’s cricket and India versus Pakistan. Of course I will be disappointed!”