Pakistani pacer Shaheen Afridi, wife welcome first child

Pakistani cricketer Shaheen Shah Afridi and his wife, Ansha Afridi, have been blessed with a baby boy on Saturday, whom the couple have named Ali Yar.

The arrival of the couple's first child comes as Shaheen participates in the ongoing two-Test series against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.

Shaheen was congratulated by teammates and fans on social media as they celebrated the arrival of his son. The joyous occasion also marks a new chapter for Ansha's father, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, who is now a grandfather.

Despite his professional commitments, the 24-year-old cricketer plans to depart from Rawalpindi for Karachi tomorrow (Sunday) night, to be with his wife after the conclusion of the first Test.

He is set to re-join his teammates ahead of the second Test, which is scheduled for August 30.

Shaheen tied the knot with Ansha in February 2023 when their nikkah was solemnised at a local mosque in Karachi in the presence of close relatives of both families.

Later, in September 2023, the couple held their wedding ceremony at a local hall in Karachi and hosted the Valima reception ceremony in the capital city of Islamabad.

National team players and former cricketers attended the couple's wedding festivities, adding a touch of cricketing glamour to the celebration.

Notable attendees included Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Imam-ul-Haq, and Haris Rauf, who came to convey their best wishes to the newlyweds.

In addition to the aforementioned cricketing luminaries, the ceremony saw the presence of Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan, who added to the festivities with their warm wishes and congratulatory messages.