Shoaib Akhtar, child vlogger Shiraz bond over cricket in adorable meet-up

Five-year-old YouTuber received an invite to spend a day at the cricketer’s residence

In a heartwarming rendezvous that bridged generations of cricket enthusiasts, Pakistan’s youngest vlogger Muhammad Shiraz, famed for his Shirazi Village Vlogs, had the unique opportunity to meet one of Pakistan's cricketing icons, Shoaib Akhtar. 

Shiraz, known for his engaging content and vibrant personality, had previously declared Akhtar to be his favourite cricketer. Shortly after, the man himself invited the five-year-old to meet him at his house. Shiraz shared the exciting encounter on his YouTube channel in a video titled “I met Shoaib Akhtar, the fastest bowler in the world,” posted on May 5.

Accompanied by Pakistani cricketers Kamran Ghulam and Haseebullah Khan, Shiraz embarked on a memorable visit to Akhtar's residence. The gathering was marked by warm exchanges and mutual admiration, with the cricketers expressing their appreciation for Shiraz's work and confirming their avid viewership of his vlogs.

During the meeting, cricket became the focal point of discussion, with Akhtar regaling Shiraz and his companions with anecdotes from his illustrious career. In a lighthearted moment, the legendary pacer humourously confessed his preference for hitting batsmen over stumps during his fast bowling days.

“You bowl very dangerously,” the young vlogger noted. “I saw you hitting the wickets.” Responding with a smile, Akhtar described how his iconic bowling moves came to be. “Wickets were never my target. I would consider the batsmen my wickets so I would hit them.”

As conversations veered towards future aspirations, the former cricketer expressed his desire to explore the picturesque region of Gilgit Baltistan, lamenting the absence of an invitation thus far. “It’s a big wish of mine that boys from Gilgit Baltistan join cricket… A fast bowler from there would break my record,” Akhtar maintained.

Reflecting on his own cricketing journey, he went on to recall his early encounters with the sport, including an anecdote involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan's interest in recruiting him at the age of 19.

“I got into cricket because of Imran Khan,” Akhtar admitted. “I thought I would play with him but he retired. He was the one who selected me when I was 19 at a camp. He said, ‘Let this guy play.’ This was in 1994. No one listened to him so I got in the game much later.” 

The sportsman also complimented Shiraz and his steady climb to fame. “Everyone knows who Shiraz is now. Do you know how many fans you have all over the world? Everyone in America, Canada asks about Shiraz,” he remarked with a laugh.

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