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Shaheen Afridi’s Heartfelt Gift To Bumrah That Melted Hearts Amid India-Pakistan Rivalry

Poulomi Chakraborty

Shaheen Afridi's Gift To Bumrah (Source: AFP Photos)Shaheen Afridi's Gift To Bumrah (Source: AFP Photos)

The beauty of the cricket is that it can turn the fiercest on-field rivalry into the sweetest off-field bond. Even the biggest rivals of cricket, India and Pakistan cricketers, share a friendly bond once they cross the boundary line for the ages.

During the Asia Cup 2023, a touching moment captured attention when Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi gave Jasprit Bumrah a special gift to celebrate the birth of his son Angad. This kind gesture highlighted the strong bond that exists beyond the intense cricket rivalry between the two nations.

When Fatherhood Bridged Fierce Rivalries

If we recall the fiercest rivalries in cricket, India-Pakistan will come first since the closest neighbors share the deadliest battle on the big stage of cricket. Over the years, they gifted some of the bravest battles in the game. Yet, amid the fire and pressure, moments of genuine friendship between players have stood out, reminding fans that even the fiercest rivals can share bonds of brotherhood.

The Asia Cup 2023 witnessed an iconic brotherhood moment between Shaheen Shah Afridi and Jasprit Bumrah. During the tournament, Jasprit Bumrah and his wife Sanjana Ganeshan, welcomed their son Angad. After that, when the arch rivals met in the Super Four stage of the tournament, Shaheen Afridi’s heartwarming gesture won hearts.

After rain washed out the much-anticipated IND vs PAK clash, a heartwarming moment stole the spotlight. Before returning to the hotel, Pakistani pacer Shaheen Afridi surprised Jasprit Bumrah with a lavish gift box, congratulating him on becoming a father. Between the high-voltage thriller, that gesture added to another tale of the IND-PAK brotherhood beyond the 22 Yards.

After the match ended up moving towards a reserve day, the cricket fans enjoyed a pure IND vs PAK thriller as the Indian batters set the stage on fire and the bowlers did the rest of the job. Depending on Kohli and Rahul’s tons and Kuldeep’s fifer, Team India pulled off a massive 228-run victory in the high-voltage contest.

Amid all the cricket action, Jasprit Bumrah paused to acknowledge Shaheen Afridi’s kind gesture. Months later, his wife, Sanjana, added to the warmth, sharing that their son, Angad, absolutely loved the gift. It was just not a gesture; it was a powerful reminder that cricket is more than just a game.