Viral photo! Pakistan’s Muhammad Shahzad copies Hardik Pandya’s iconic celebration after record Hong Kong Sixes title | Cricket News
Pakistan won their sixth Hong Kong Sixes title with a remarkable performance over the weekend. They narrowly beat Australia in the semi-final and had a convincing 43-point victory over Kuwait in the final.The Pakistani team displayed their dominance throughout the tournament at the Mission Road Ground in Mong Kok, with their only setback being a defeat against India in the group stages.Muhammad Shahzad’s celebration after the victory attracted particular attention. The young cricketer recreated Hardik Pandya’s iconic celebration pose during India’s T20 World Cup victory in Barbados last year.
Hardik Pandya’s iconic celebration pose
Shahzad, a fast bowling all-rounder, imitated Pandya’s famous stance by posing with the trophy on the ground while shrugging his shoulders. The image was shared on her social media platforms.Shahzad became Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament, claiming 7 wickets on his way to victory. The intention behind this celebration remains unclear, whether it was a tribute to one of Asia’s foremost tailoring specialists or a response to recent exchanges between the two nations.The celebratory pose initially gained prominence when Pandya performed it for the first time after dismissing Shadab Khan in India’s victory over Pakistan in last year’s T20 World Cup. The gesture became iconic after India’s ICC Trophy triumph and was repeated during their ICC Champions Trophy victory in the UAE this year.Although Shahzad has represented Pakistan at the U-19 level, he is yet to make his senior team debut. He recently made headlines during the President’s Cup final representing Pakistan TV, where he achieved a remarkable feat of taking five wickets, including a hat-trick, followed by an unbeaten century in the following innings.The semi-final of the tournament proved difficult for Pakistan against Australia. The Australian team needed six runs off the final ball but could only manage one boundary, allowing Pakistan to win by a run.The final against Kuwait saw Pakistan in fine form. Abbas Afridi’s explosive innings of 52 runs off just 11 balls helped Pakistan post 132 runs. Their bowling attack then restricted Kuwait to 93 runs, securing a comfortable victory and their record sixth Hong Kong Sixes title.This structured tournament success highlighted Pakistan’s continued dominance in the Hong Kong Sixes format, adding another trophy to their impressive collection. The combination of experienced players and emerging talents like Shahzad contributed to the success of their campaign.The tournament showed Pakistan’s ability to perform under pressure, particularly evident in their narrow semi-final victory and domination in the final. Their only loss came against traditional rivals India, but they bounced back strongly to win the ultimate prize.The victory strengthens Pakistan’s position as the most successful team in the history of the Hong Kong Sixes, with their sixth title setting a new benchmark in the competition. The tournament also provided a platform for young talents like Shahzad to showcase their skills on the international stage.
