Afghans celebrate Eid in style

Players wore traditional Pathan suit on the auspicious occasion ahead of the second day’s play at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Afghanistan's players greet each other on the auspicious occasion of Eid. Photo: BCCI

It is not every day that one gets to see Rashid Khan or Mohammad Nabi dressed up in traditional Pathan suit. But the Afghanistan cricketers, on Friday, made it a point to celebrate Eid in style.

Before heading to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for the second day of its inaugural Test match against India, the Afghan players and the support staff had a gala celebration at the team hotel. The team-mates exchanged customaries; they offered namaz together and prayed for peace and prosperity.

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With the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman, Atif Mashal, and its CEO, Shafiq Stanikzai, around, the team had a grand breakfast. “I wish all the people Eid Mubarak. Hope there is peace and happiness,” Nabi said.

‘Great thing’

After reaching the ground — dressed in traditional Afghan attire — the team had to get into the Test outfit. But its team manager, Shir Agha Hamkar could be seen in Pathan suit and shawl as the team practised before the second day’s play. “The mood in the team is very good. We celebrated the festival together and that was a great thing before heading for the Test,” Hamkar told Sportstar .

Even the former cricketers — Nawroz Mangal, Dawlat Ahmadzai — joining the team at hotel, the Afghanistan players made it a point to start the auspicious day on a happy note.