North Waziristan teacher recovered after abduction linked to Aina Wazir's cricket video

Abduction underscores growing friction between digital expression, tribal traditions in North Waziristan

PESHAWAR:

A school teacher in North Waziristan has been safely recovered after being abducted by gunmen, days after he shared a viral video of a young girl playing cricket that sparked both admiration and controversy.

Zafran Wazir, a teacher at a private school and college in the Shawa area, is known for encouraging his pupils, community members, and social activists. He recorded and shared a video of Aina Wazir, a young orphan, playing cricket with boys in a community described as “swimming against all odds”.

Northern Waziristan’s young bowling sensation Aina Wazir has taken social media by storm, earning a spot in the upcoming Zalmi Women’s League after catching Javed Afridi's eye. The Peshawar Zalmi owner has pledged full support and professional gear to nurture this raw talent,… pic.twitter.com/6dN0XOEFId

— Express News (@ExpressNewsPK) February 19, 2026

The short clip quickly gained traction on mainstream and social media platforms. It showed the young girl confidently delivering fast-paced balls during a local cricket game, drawing widespread praise online for her talent and spirit.

Aina Wazir took social media by storm and earned a spot in the upcoming Zalmi Women’s League after catching the attention of Javed Afridi. The owner of Peshawar Zalmi pledged full support and professional gear to nurture what he described as raw talent.

However, Aina Wazir’s videos also drew negative reactions among some peers and fuelled controversy over women’s roles in society. While Afridi announced plans to bring her on board, a local commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) reportedly termed the development a threat to prevailing tribal traditions, triggering a chain of events that stirred debate across the region.

Shortly after a second video of Aina Wazir went viral, Zafran Wazir was abducted. District police confirmed that he had been taken by gunmen.

Read: Gunmen hijack DC vehicle in Kharan

According to local police, “Zafran Wazir was kidnapped from the Shewa area of North Waziristan and allegedly subjected to torture. During his captivity, a video surfaced on social media showing him describing the sharing of the clip as a ‘mistake’ and stating that he was in the custody of unidentified individuals.”

The abductors reportedly claimed that filming and sharing the video of the young girl was against Islamic values and Pashtun cultural traditions.

The incident created anxiety among residents, many of whom expressed concern over growing tensions surrounding social media use and community sensitivities.

Read more: PHC orders replies over 'disappearances' in Peshawar, Mardan

Following efforts by a local jirga and religious scholars, authorities later confirmed that Zafran had been safely recovered and reunited with his family.

District Police Officer Sajjad Hussain said the young man had returned home unharmed. Residents welcomed him warmly, placing garlands around his neck in a show of solidarity. Videos of his reception circulated widely online.

The episode has reignited broader questions within the community: can a young girl pursue her interest in cricket without controversy? Does recording and sharing such moments violate religious or cultural norms? And how should social media be navigated in conservative settings?

The story of Aina Wazir’s bowling has grown from a symbol of youthful passion to become a flashpoint in a wider conversation about tradition, modernity, and the evolving role of digital media in tribal society.