Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed shared the story behind his then three-month-old son’s iconic photo with MS Dhoni before the 2017 Champions Trophy final between India and Pakistan.
“The moment happened when his family friends were visiting, and Dhoni happened to come downstairs. He thought it would be a perfect opportunity to capture the moment with his three-month-old son,” Sarfaraz told Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan-led by Sarfaraz defeated India in the 2017 Champions Trophy final. The former Pakistan captain also explained his conversation with the Indian great after the final, which helped him grow as a cricketer.
“I had a long conversation with Dhoni about wicketkeeping and cricket in general. I asked him how he managed to balance his roles as a wicketkeeper, batsman, and captain. The tips Dhoni shared with me were immensely helpful. He was very humble and generous in offering his advice,” he said.
The former Pakistan captain said despite the high-octane contest, the players from both the sides have shared mutual respect for each other.
“While the lack of bilateral series has affected interactions to some extent, the matches that do take place, especially back-to-back encounters, have led to improved relations,” he said.
“Whenever Indian and Pakistani players meet, there is always mutual respect and friendship, after matches it’s not uncommon to see players like Shoaib Malik, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and others sitting together, chatting and enjoying each other’s company.”
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