‘I am very proud’ – Abdullah Shafique’s father gets emotional after his son’s spectacular debut against Bangladesh
Abdullah Shafique (Photo by MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Making a mark in your debut match for the country is always a special achievement. Pakistan’s Abdullah Shafique had a Test match debut to remember as he scored two fifties against Bangladesh, and helped Pakistan to an eight-wicket victory. The 22-year-old scored 52 and 73 and brought tears to his father Shafiq Ahmed’s eyes.
For the past 30 years, Shafiq has lived in UAE as a cricket coach. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, he could not see his family in Pakistan. Shafique has two more siblings named Hasan and Zainab, but it’s been a year since Shafiq Ahmed has met any one of them. Ahmed though managed to speak with Shafique after his son’s stupendous show against Bangladesh and said he was full of emotion watching him bat.
“I told him that as his father, and for our community, I am very proud,” Shafiq said according to The National News. “At that time, some water came into my eyes also.”
Shafiq gets very nervous while watching his son play. He rarely watches him playing the matches live. A cricket coach by profession, Shafiq is generally busy teaching his students the basics of the game. During the Bangladesh vs Pakistan match also he was busy attending students at Gems Modern Academy in Dubai and missed watching his son’s twin half-centuries.
“Live, I didn’t watch it,” Shafiq said. “But once I had found out what was happening from the internet, I watched the highlights on YouTube. You could say our dream had come true.”
Pakistan put on a clinical display in the batting and bowling departments of games. The biggest positive was opening batters manage to stitch two century-plus partnerships. Shafique managed to compliment Abid Ali well. Bangladesh and Pakistan are now set to cross swords in the second Test match starting on December 4.
