Afridi's father calls son's ICC T20 final heroics "best gift on father's day"
23 Jun 2009, 1403 Hrs

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Karachi, June 23 Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi's father, Sahibzada Fazl-ur Rehman is over the moon, after his son's stupendous all-round performance helped Pakistan win the ICC Twenty20 Championship.

Ecstatic over the team's brilliant performance to beat the favorites Sri Lanka in the final of the tournament at Lord's, Rehman said his son has given him the best gift on father's day.

"I am the proudest of all the Pakistani fathers because my son has given me the best gift on father's day," The Dawn quoted Rehman, as saying.

Afridi took one for 20 in his quota of four overs, and later hit a swashbuckling 54 to seal Pakistan's win by eight wickets.

Rehman said Afridi has brought back smiles on the face of thousands of people in the country, who have been forced to face adverse situations in the recent past.

"What I always tell him is that he should play for the country and for the people who adore him. I am elated that he gave the whole nation moments of happiness," he said.

Afridi, who hails from the tribal Khyber district in the troubled North West Frontier Province (NWFP), is hugely popular in the region.

"I am really happy, Afridi played an excellent innings. I feel proud of my country," said Abdul Jalal, who has been forced to take shelter in a refugee camp due to the ongoing military operation in Swat and Malakand Divisions of the NWFP.

Afridi struggled to score runs in the initial part of the tournament, but he continued to wreak havoc with his patent fast leg-spinners, and came good with the bat when it mattered most for the team.

With back to back half centuries in the semi-final and final match of the tournament, Afridi has once again proved that he is arguably one of the severest hitters of the cricket ball, and the ICC T20 trophy has only rejuvenated his 'boom-boom' style batting. (ANI)

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