Abrar Ahmed and Wanindu Hasaranga turned the Asia Cup clash into a spectacle of fun when both copied each other’s celebration styles, while Waqar Younis, watching from the commentary box, ended up joking about his missing finger.

 

Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed dismissed Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga in the 13th over, and in a cheeky gesture, celebrated in Hasaranga’s trademark style. Later in the game, when Sri Lanka came out to the field to defend, Hasaranga returned the favour. He celebrated in Abrar’s style after picking up a wicket, leaving commentators and fans in stitches.

 

The camera caught the exchanges in close detail, and soon everyone from the crowd to the commentary box was enjoying the fun. Former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis, while commentating, joked that he wished he could join the fun too: “If I had all 10 fingers, I would also celebrate like Hasaranga after taking a wicket.”

 

Waqar’s light remark led fans to recall why the legendary fast bowler is missing a finger. A very young Waqar had a tragic accident while swimming with cousins in a canal in Multan. To jump off a bridge into the water, he tried climbing through iron grills that were already slippery from water, making the future fast bowling legend lose his balance. As his body weight dragged him down, one of his fingers got stuck in the metal bars and was severed.

 

The fall also broke three of his ribs. Waqar later shared that, at first, he didn’t even realize his finger was gone. The pain in his ribs and the blood on his body made him think he was hurt elsewhere. Only after looking at his hand did he discover the truth. He was in his mid-teens at the time, close to 15 years of age. 

 

Despite that early accident, Waqar went on to become one of Pakistan’s greatest fast bowlers, leading the famous “Two Ws” era with Wasim Akram and inspiring generations of cricketers.

 

Pakistan on Tuesday night defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets in a crucial Super Fours match of the Asia Cup.

 

 Pakistan will now face Bangladesh in a must-win clash on September 25. The Asia Cup final is scheduled to be played on September 28.