Picture Credit: X
With the T20 World Cup 2024 just round the corner, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar once again grabbed the limelight. The Rawalpindi Express sent fans and cricket enthusiasts in frenzy after he shared a tweet hinting on his potential return to play once again for his national side.
The 48-year-old, who unveiled the T20 World Cup 2024 trophy in Pakistan during the T20I series against New Zealand, Akhtar was welcomed with loud cheers of “Shaibi Shabi”. The Pakistan speedster took to X to share that moment with the caption reading, “Those “shaibi shaibi” chants were so heart touching. I wanted to go out and bowl for all of you again. Goosembumps!!”
However, the loud cheers were something to cherish for the former cricketer, what grabbed the headlines was the caption, “I wanted to go out and bowl for all of you again.” This cryptic as well as emotional tweet, reignited rumours of his possible return to cricket.
Shaheen Shah Afridi imitates Shoaib Akhtar’s celebration; latter reacts
The former Pakistan speedster, Shoaib Akhtar, who was present at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore saw Shaheen Shah Afridi emulate the latter’s wing celebration. Going into the final match of the five-match T20I series trailing by 2-1 margin, the Babar Azam-led Men in Green registered a nine-run win to draw the series.
The former T20I skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi finished with the figures of 4/30 in his four-over spell. The youngster imitated Akhtar’s iconic wing celebration and even blew a kiss towards the former speedster in a heartwarming gesture. To everyone’s surprise, the Rawalpindi Express took to X to speak of Afridi’s kind gesture.
“Thank you @iShaheenAfridi for such a lovely gesture today during the match! You were amazing today. Keep going,” he captioned the post on X.