Pakistan’s fast bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and his wife, Ansha Afridi, have joyfully welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Ali Yar, on Saturday. The Afridi family shared the exciting news on social media, prompting an outpouring of congratulations from fans and well-wishers around the world.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and several fellow cricketers extended their warm wishes to the star pacer on becoming a father. The news of their expanding family first surfaced in July when reports hinted that Shaheen and Ansha were expecting their first child.
Pakistan’s red-ball coach, Jason Gillespie, had mentioned that Shaheen might miss the Test series against Bangladesh due to the upcoming birth of his child. "Shaheen could miss the Bangladesh Test matches due to the childbirth," Gillespie was quoted saying. He also suggested that the bowler could be given some rest to stay with his wife during this time.
Currently, Pakistan is engaged in a two-match Test series against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, with the first Test having started on August 21. Shaheen Afridi is expected to travel to Karachi after the conclusion of the first Test and rejoin the team before the start of the second Test on August 30.
Shaheen Afridi got engaged to Ansha Afridi, the second-eldest daughter of former Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi, in 2021. Their nikah took place in a private ceremony in February of the following year. The couple celebrated their wedding festivities and Ansha’s rukhsati in September 2023.
The arrival of their baby boy marks a new chapter in the couple’s life, and the cricketing world has been quick to celebrate this joyous occasion with them.