KARACHI: Pakistan’s star fast bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and his wife, Ansha Afridi, have welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Ali Yar. The Afridi family joyfully shared the news on social media, where fans and well-wishers from around the globe sent their congratulations.
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This moment is especially significant for the cricketing family, as former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Khan Afridi, Shaheen’s father-in-law, has become a maternal father for the first time. In July, reports emerged that Shaheen and Ansha were expecting their first child. At the time, Pakistan’s red-ball coach, Jason Gillespie, hinted that Shaheen might miss the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh due to the baby’s arrival.
Gillespie was quoted saying, “Shaheen may miss the Bangladesh Test matches due to the birth of his child. We can offer him some rest if he wishes to stay with his wife during this time.”
Currently, Pakistan is playing a two-match Test series against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, with the first Test beginning on August 21.
Shaheen, a left-arm fast bowler, got engaged to Ansha Shahid, the second-eldest daughter of former national cricket team captain Shahid Afridi, in 2021. Their nikah ceremony took place in a private event on February 3, 2022, followed by week-long wedding celebrations and rukhsati in September 2023. The festivities concluded with a reception at the DHA Golf and Country Club, attended by many of Shaheen’s national cricket teammates.
