"I’m the man who loved you first."
Shahid Afridi penned a heartfelt note for his daughter Aqsa on her wedding.
The former cricketer’s eldest daughter tied the knot and Shahid took to Instagram to share several pictures from the wedding.
One image showed Aqsa embracing her father.
Another black-and-white picture was taken while Aqsa and Shahid were in the middle of a father-daughter dance while a third showed her resting her hand on his shoulder.
Shahid Afridi captioned the post:
“Meri pyari beti [My beautiful daughter] – it seems like yesterday when I cradled you in my arms – and on that day, I promised myself I would never leave your side.
“Although you’re about to begin a new chapter in your life, you’ll always have my heart, because I’m the man who loved you first.
“May Allah keep you both under His Divine protection and give you the chance to create a beautiful life together. Ameen.”
Fans and celebrities sent congratulatory messages.
Dr Syeda Bushra Iqbal, former wife of the late Amir Liaquat, wrote:
“Congratulations and blessings for you and Nadia for raising such beautiful and loving daughters.”
One fan wrote: “’I’m the man who loved you first’, Lala proving yet again that the bond he had with his daughters is unbreakable.”
Another exclaimed:
“I love this guy, honestly he has set the bar!!”
Shahid Afridi has never been shy of showing his love for his four daughters, Aqsa, Ansha, Ajwa and Asmara.
He has shown time and time again that to raise a daughter is to take care of and guide them into becoming their own independent individual.
In one interview, Shahid openly spoke about the obsession people had with giving birth to sons and the taunts that parents of daughters had to deal with.
He admitted that this biased opinion was seen in many different communities, including his own community, where women were often pressured into thinking they had to give birth to sons.
He revealed that it was disheartening to think about the impact it had on women.
Shahid Afridi is a prime example that daughters truly are a blessing and that it is ok for a father to express their love for them.
He is also a father-in-law to fellow cricketer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is married to his second daughter Ansha.
Posting a snippet from the pair’s wedding ceremony, Shahid wrote:
“A daughter is the most beautiful flower of your garden, because they blossom with great blessings.
“A daughter is someone you laugh with, dream with, and love with all your heart.”