KARACHI, September 20, 2023 — Shahid Afridi, the legendary cricketer and former captain of the Pakistan national team, has poured his emotions into a touching message for his daughter, Ansha, on the occasion of her rukhsati (seeing off) ceremony. Ansha, who had officially tied the knot with fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi in a nikkah ceremony in February this year following a two-year engagement, saw her rukhsati take place in Karachi.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, the iconic all-rounder shared a heartfelt post featuring Urdu couplets dedicated to his beloved daughter. In the post, Afridi expressed his emotions about this significant milestone in his daughter’s life:
آیا تھا گھر میں نور ابھی کل کی بات ہے
رخصت بھی ہو رہا ہے وہ آنکھوں کے سامنےڈوبا ہوا بھی ہے ترے بابا کا دل مگر
امید صبح نو اسے آئی ہےتھامنےAnshaheen@❤️ pic.twitter.com/TJRDgn3jIb
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) September 19, 2023
“Aya tha ghar main noor abhi kal ki baat hai
Rukhsat bhi ho raha hai wo ankhon kay saamney
Dooba hua bhi hai terey baba ka dil magar
Umeed subh-e-nau isey ayi hai thamney.”
Afridi accompanied the couplet with two photos, both taken from behind, capturing a poignant moment as he lovingly held onto his daughter and son-in-law. In one of the pictures, the former Pakistan cricket captain leaned towards Ansha, vividly displaying the deep emotions of a father seeing his daughter off.
Ansha was a vision of elegance in an intricately-designed red dress adorned with gold zardozi and sequin work, which captured the essence of traditional Pakistani bridal attire.
Photos from the wedding ceremony, held at a private venue in Karachi, quickly went viral on social media. They showcased Shaheen Shah Afridi mingling with guests, including Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam, as they celebrated the joyous occasion.
The 23-year-old fast bowler arrived at the venue accompanied by his family, and the rukhsati ceremony featured a diverse guest list that included former cricket captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Saeed Anwar, as well as cricketing personalities Tanveer Ahmed and Sohail Khan.
While the couple officially married seven months ago, Ansha and Shaheen will hold their valima ceremony in Islamabad on September 21, marking another chapter in their journey of love and togetherness.
