Cutie, you aren’t my rival: Mahi holds Sarfraz’s son
The two wicket-keepers, one a former captain of India and the other the present skipper of the Pakistani team, will be in opposite camps today when the Champions Trophy final is played at the Oval in London. But off the field, M.S. Dhoni and Sarfraz Ahmad are not rivals.
On arriving from Birmingham after beating Bangladesh, Dhoni met Sarfraz with his wife Khushbakht and their four-month son Abdullah at the team hotel Grange City. The photograph of the little one in Dhoni’s safe hands was shared with this reporter by Sarfraz’s India-based mamu (his mother’s brother).
“It’s only on the field that there is rivalry between India and Pakistan. Families of players don’t mind interacting with each other,” said Mehboob Hassan, speaking from Etawah, (Western UP), where he works as a senior clerk at the Agricultural Engineering College.
“Sarfraz and Khushbakht were married in May 2015 and my entire family went to Pakistan. We stayed there for a few days. Abdullha, the fourmonth boy, is their first child,” said Hassan.
Back home in Pakistan, Sarfraz’s mother Akeela Bano was delighted to see the photograph of the former India captain holding her grandson. “It was a very fine gesture by Dhoni. I showed this photo to all my children and relatives here. My married daughter, who came to our house yesterday was pleasantly surprised to see Abdullah in his hands,” Sarfraz’s mother, speaking from Karachi, said.
“Obviously, I have to support the country for which my son plays and inshallah... Pakistan will win tomorrow,” she said.
“Sadly, Sarfraz’s dad is not alive to see the progress of our son. He died some years ago. He, however, had watched our son playing the Under-19 World Cup,” she added.
When reminded that Indian captain Virat Kohli’s dad has also passed on, Sarfraz’s mother said, “It is only Allah’s wish that decides the course of life. We can’t do anything. Best luck to him also.”
It was a very fine gesture by Dhoni. I showed this photo to everyone — SARFRAZ’S MOM