Pakistan-born leg-spinner Ahmed, who became an Australian citizen in July after his application was fast-tracked, did not have the VB beer logo on his shirt during his international debut in last week´s T20 matches against England.[break]
It emerged on Tuesday he had "expressed discomfort with the conflict this created for him" as a Muslim, with the religion´s sacred text, the Koran, banning adherents from drinking alcohol.
Cricket Australia (CA) agreed he could wear an unbranded shirt, but this led to criticism, notably from two of Australia´s best-known sportsmen in former Test batsman Doug Walters and ex-Wallaby rugby union wing David Campese.
Walters was quoted as saying: "I think if he doesn´t want to wear the team gear, he should not be part of the team. Maybe if he doesn´t want to be paid, that´s OK."
Campese tweeted in response: "Doug Walters tells Pakistan-born Fawad Ahmed: if you don´t like the VB uniform, don´t play for Australia. Well said Doug. Tell him to go home."
Their comments were condemned as "bigoted" by CA chief executive James Sutherland.
Bailey said former asylum-seeker Ahmed, who added an ODI cap against Scotland in Edinburgh on Wednesday, had dealt with worrying issues in his life.
"I don´t think it´d particularly worry Fawad," Bailey said Saturday after Friday´s washout in the first ODI in Leeds denied Ahmed a maiden international appearance against England, Australia´s arch-rivals.
"I think he´s probably had to deal with a lot more important things than what´s on the front of his shirt.
"Fawad (has) a great sense of humour," added Bailey before explaining how Ahmed had forged a strong bond with Australia coach Darren Lehmann.
"He and the coach have a pretty funny relationship. They like to get stuck into each other, which always provides a lot of lighthearted stuff around the group.
"I know now he´s had a taste of playing for Australia he wants to do it a lot - but he wants to do it in all three formats," said Bailey ahead of the second match of five at Manchester´s Old Trafford on Sunday.
Prior to Bailey´s remarks, Sutherland defended Ahmed by saying: "Fawad is an Australian cricketer, he is as entitled as anyone to represent his country.
"He was made a citizen in July, he has a passport, he has chosen Australia as his home for very good reasons. The Australian cricket community has welcomed him and we´re very proud to have him."
Sutherland added the criticisms of Ahmed´s shirt stance, which is akin to that of South Africa´s Hashim Amla, who does not wear the logo of Castle Lager, the Proteas´ main sponsor, were "opportunism on some people´s parts to reflect bigoted views".
This is not the first time Campese has found himself at the centre of a Twitter storm after questioning whether women should be writing about rugby in November when Georgina Robinson was assigned by the Sydney Morning Herald to cover the Wallabies´ tour of Europe.
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