‘I encourage them to share…': Shahid Afridi opens up on bond with daughters

Shahid Afridi expressed his enduring excitement about playing a cricket match against India, applauding their cricket board for their grassroots setup, while underscoring the loss of talent in Pakistan due to insufficient investment in grassroots cricket.

Recently featured on a podcast, the cricket legend delved into his teenage years, discussed his cricketing career, and shared the adorable bond he shares with his five daughters.

During the podcast, he reminisced about a pivotal moment during a crucial match in 2014 Asia Cup , where he unleashed two extraordinary sixes against Indian bowler Ashwin, securing Pakistan's spot in the final.

The unforgettable triumph over India still holds significance for cricket enthusiasts in Pakistan.

The dynamic all-rounder shared, "It was a crucial match, as every encounter against India is always important. The final over brought immense pressure, and while our batters performed well, losing back to back wickets made the situation difficult. As Saeed Ajmal came to the crease, I urged him to take a single and let me take the lead in the final overs. He did otherwise, and got dismissed. When Junaid Khan came next, I repeated the same strategy in Pashto."

“I wanted that opportunity because it was the last over. I always used to seek opportunities to play against India and playing against them is always a thrill,” he asserted.

The host mentioned that big matches, especially against India, can be nerve-wracking for players. While Shahid Afridi possesses impressive records against the team in blue, it's true that Pakistan doesn't have as many consistently impressive performers as India. 

To which the charismatic Shahid Afridi said, “They have worked, you can’t benefit from hoarding money. It comes from investing in young talent, like India has done. Legendary player Rahul Dravid, instead of demanding to work with the national team, he chose to nurture young talent at the under-19 level, he worked at the grassroots.”

“India heavily invested in cricket grounds and academies, and they did not waste their talent. We rampantly waste talent due to a lack of similar infrastructure. This leaves promising players from KPK and ex-FATA to fend for themselves due to inadequate facilities and resources,” he added.

When asked about handling pressure in big matches, the cricket icon emphasised that confidence arises from thorough preparation, saying that someone confident in their skills fears nothing in the heat of the moment. “If you have worked hard in practice sessions and training, it will automatically boost your self-belief,” he noted.

In expressing the delightful bond he shares with his five daughters, Shahid Afridi credited them for bringing him good fortune, saying that, “I am very lucky that God blessed me with five daughters. I have seen my life get changed after the birth of every daughter.”

He continued, "I'm blessed with two amazing sons-in-law (Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseer Nasir Khan). My focus now remains on my three daughters. Even though two of my daughters are married, I am still close to them. They still come to me whenever a problem comes up.”

He stressed that parents should invest time in building strong relationships with their children. “I am thankful to my wife who has raised my children very well in my absence,” he said. 

Shahid Afridi emphasised that formal education opens doors to knowledge and skills, but upbringing, primarily nurtured by parents, instills vital ethics, values, and life skills.

Highlighting that the society has shifted from the era of strict father figures, he went on to say that a strong father-child relationship is more crucial than ever.

“I openly share my past with my daughters, and we share laughter over it. I've created an environment where they feel as comfortable confiding in me as they would with their mothers. Even if they hesitate, I encourage them to share everything.“

While discussing his approach to parenting, Shahid Afridi observed that the culture he grew up in limited daughters' love and freedom, “keeping them under strict restrictions, but thankfully, things have changed for the better these days."

He emphasised providing his daughters with freedom and the space to share their thoughts, never pressuring them into marriage adding that, “I did not force my daughter to marry someone, I told them to share their choice and opinions openly.”

He stressed the importance of instilling strong values in children, enabling them to discern right from wrong as they are independent to make their own decisions.