In a period which has been marked with a thaw in India Pakistan cricketing ties, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh threw his support behind Shahid Afridi’s charitable trust, the Shahid Afridi Foundation.
At a fundraising event of the foundation in Bahrain on Thursday, the former India star joined the former Pakistan skipper on the stage as they recounted previous encounters between the two sides.
Singh recalled an incident involving former Pakistan skipper Inzamam ul Haq in which the skipper admonished a reporter for asking a controversial question.
“Pakistan were three down to India. Reporter asked Inzi (Inzamam) if matches were fixed. Inzamam paused, stroked his beard & then said shut up,” the Indian spinner said to greeted by laughter among the attendees.
Harbhajan Singh “Pak were 3 down to India. Reporter asked Inzi if matches were fixed. Inzi paused, stroked his beard & then said Shut Up” pic.twitter.com/UpT8xW03VE
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) October 26, 2017
Afridi on his part thanked Singh for making the effort to attend the event and supporting a Pakistan cause despite being told to not do so by many.
“Harbhajan was told by many not to support a Pakistani cause but he defied all and came to Bahrain for my foundation,” Afridi said.
Afridi had earlier posted an image of the two cricketers donning the Shahid Afridi Foundation shirts on Twitter before the event had gotten underway.
Shahid Afridi “Harbhajan was told by many not to support a Pakistani cause but he defied all & came to Bahrain for my foundation” pic.twitter.com/OtYISihjX9
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) October 27, 2017
He had accompanied the picture with a captain saying: “Breaking all barriers, crossing all boundaries for love & peace & humanity. ThankU @harbhajan_singh for supporting @SAFoundationN #HopeNotOut”.
The Shahid Afridi Foundation is working extensively to bring significant improvement in the health and education sectors in Pakistan.
India skipper Virat Kohli had earlier donated a personal bat to the foundation’s cause while his autographed jersey had fetched a handsome sum at an auction conducted by the foundation.