NNWN/ Bengaluru, 2017-08-01
There are no boundaries for charity work. Indian Cricket captain Virat Kohli has set the example. Kohli has donated his bat to the Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) founded by former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi. Moved by his gesture, Ex Pakistani skipper Afridi has tweeted the picture of Kohli’s signed bad and the Indian skipper replied through tweet his support for the SAF and causes it stand for.
Thank you @imVkohli for your kind gesture in support of @SAFoundationN. Friends & supporters like you ensure #HopeNotOut for everyone pic.twitter.com/T6z7F2OYLb
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) August 1, 2017
Kohli replied in kind wishing Afridi the best in his charity work. Here is his tweet.
You're most welcome Shahid Bhai.. Wishing you and the @SAFoundationN all the luck for the upcoming events. ☺️ #HopeNotOut https://t.co/Rv1NNPJGC5
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) August 1, 2017
The development came amidst the prevailing tension between India and Pakistan. Both the neighbours may not have active cricketing relation now but Kohli’s move has touched heart of Afridi, his NGO and people of Pakistan.
As far as Kohli is concerned, the young cricketer cum philanthropist Kohli had gifted his bat to Mohammad Amir ahead of the 2016 World T20 clash between the two nations at the Eden Gardens, while the Indian team gifted a signed Virat Kohli-jersey as a present for Afridi upon his retirement from international cricket.
The jersey, which was signed by Indian players like Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah, Suresh Raina, Pawan Negi, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, R Ashwin and Hardik Pandya, along with present head coach Ravi Shastri, was auctioned at the Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) fundraising event held in London on July 31, for 4300 Euros or roughly Rs 3 lakh.
However, it is hoped that the bat signed by Kohli will fetch a similar or even better return to Afridi’s charity foundation which focuses on providing healthcare, education and sports facilities for underprivileged children.Former Pakistan skipper had founded the SAF charity foundation in March 2014 and has been actively involved in charity works in and around areas like Kohat, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
