Shaheen Shah Afridi was among several Pakistan cricketers who offered prayers for Rashid Khan’s late brother, Haji Abdul Halim Shinwari, following Pakistan’s 39-run win over Afghanistan. The touching moment came after the series opener, as Pakistani players extended their condolences to Rashid, whose elder brother passed away recently.
Shinwari was widely regarded as a pillar of strength in Rashid’s life, and the cricket fraternity came together to support him during this difficult time. A viral video captured Shaheen and other Pakistani players visiting the Afghanistan dressing room, where they embraced Rashid and prayed for the departed soul.
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This heartfelt gesture drew widespread appreciation from fans across social media, highlighting the deep camaraderie between the two teams despite fierce competition on the field. Several Afghan players, including Ibrahim Zadran and former skipper Asghar Afghan, also expressed their grief and stood by Rashid’s family during the tragedy.
Pakistan team offers condolences and prayers on the death of Rashid Khan’s elder brother. #PakistanCricket #RashidKhan pic.twitter.com/gxwvXyYdnG
— Ahtasham Riaz (@ahtashamriaz22) August 29, 2025
On the cricketing front, Pakistan began the T20I series with a commanding victory at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Batting first, Salman Ali Agha led the way with a brilliant unbeaten 53 off 36 balls, guiding his team to a competitive total. Afghanistan, in reply, were bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs, with Rashid showing his trademark flair, smashing 39 off just 16 balls.
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Rahmanullah Gurbaz added 38, but their efforts weren’t enough. Haris Rauf’s fiery spell of 4/31 and Sufiyan Muqeem’s 2/25 sealed the win for Pakistan. Rashid, who also bowled superbly with 1/26, will now lead Afghanistan against UAE on September 1.
