Successful Shahid Afridi Foundation Event in Sacramento, California
By Ras H. Siddiqui

The Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) with its headquarters in Karachi, Pakistan, and chapters in four or five other countries including the USA aspires to transform the lives of fiscally and societally impacted people in our country of origin. Its mission is “To enable access to education, healthcare services, and water supplies across Pakistan, empowering underprivileged communities for a better future.”

This is an effort that famous cricketer and SAF founder Shahid (Boom Boom) Afridi calls his “Second Innings” after retiring from playing the game. It appears that when the sixers are done, one must find ways to help Pakistan in other ways.

SAF has recently been on a fundraising tour of California since all such efforts require resources and rely greatly on community generosity. Its Chairman Shahid Afridi needs no further introduction and the team travelling with him this time included Squash legend Jahangir Khan who is on the SAF Board and actor/entertainer Junaid Khan along with Uzair Hasan plus a few other SAF-USA officials. Sacramento was the last stop in their tour, and we are glad that they could make it to the Town & Country Event Center in Rancho Cordova on March 8, 2024, for both their benefit and ours. This is the second time that Shahid Afridi has been in Sacramento, the last being in 2019 when he was accompanied by actor Adnan Siddiqui.

The evening started on a high note with dinner being served first (and it was delicious). We were all comfortably fed and relaxed when Usman Khalid came onto the stage and thanked everyone including the local team who put this event together. He also introduced program emcee Waqar Rizvi and invited him to come onto the stage to start the formalities. Waqar conducted the proceedings seamlessly and with a touch of class. He praised the great work that SAF has been doing in Pakistan where it is helping the needy and described their work as a noble cause that we should all support. 

The first speaker was young Usayd Azhar who reminded everyone of their religious obligations with his very inspirational delivery. He shared a story from the life of the Prophet Muhammad and that of Hazrat Ali and Fatima. If you cannot open your wallets then open your hearts, said Usayd. A short video highlighting the work of the SAF was shown next and it was quite moving as it showed the great need for it in Pakistan.

Zafar Malik, the CEO of SAF, spoke next. After thanking everyone Zafar shared details of the history of the organization which was founded around 10 years ago. He pointed out the lack of care available in rural areas of Pakistan where women and children have severe access problems. This is why SAF is focusing on mobile health centers which can travel to the patients. It currently has these centers in Baluchistan, KPK and Punjab and wants to soon have similar coverage in Sindh too, said Malik. He also highlighted clean water schemes (over 450) and the 15 schools which SAF is running in Pakistan.

SAF Board Member Dr Imran Sharief spoke next. He thanked everyone for being here and the host committee for putting this event together, especially his old class fellow Dr Wajahat Khan. He shared some of the activities of SAF in America, especially in the last two months during which eight programs in different cities have been held and their operational logistics. He added that we are honored to be here and look forward to your support. 

After a couple of more videos Shahid Afridi, Jahangir Khan and Junaid Khan took to the stage assisted by the very talented Uzair Hasan who acted as a catalyst to enhance the event. Afridi profusely thanked everyone in attendance for helping to educate people, especially the young women and girls in Pakistan. He commended the overseas Pakistani community for stepping forward and showing that their hearts are still attached with Pakistan.

Afridi said that he played Cricket for our country for almost 22 years and that has ended. Now he has embarked on another (second) innings. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in Pakistan, he said. And there is a lot more to the country than just Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad. He also pointed out the presence of some members of the Sikh community in the audience and thanked them for their support. ‘Sardar aur Pathan aik hi jaisay hain,’ said Afridi. He emphasized education for girls again since he had five daughters of his own. If a mother is educated, only then will society be educated, he said. We really need to educate our daughters. He ended his talk by asking people to pray for him so he could do something more for the people of Pakistan.

Squash legend Jahangir Khan also spoke. He said that this was their last stop on their “United for Hope” tour of the US and thanked everyone for the love and support shown to them and for their donations to the SAF cause. He said that he has been associated with SAF since 2017. He attributed his success in sports to the place he started from (Pakistan) and that after retirement, he too would like to give something back to our home country. He also spoke of his involvement in the World Squash Federation since 1998 including as its President. God has now granted him the opportunity to help NGOs like SAF, he said. He added that Shahid Afridi is just like his younger brother and that he is proud of him for embarking on this path (assisted by other team members). “This is another reason to be happy, especially if people like you support us,” said Khan. 

A request was also made to follow SAF on social media platforms for more details on its work. Waqar Khan, our venue host also came up on stage to assist with the fundraising. Signed Cricket bats, balls, and squash rackets were auctioned during the proceedings. The event closed with songs from guest artist Sherry Khan and a short performance by Junaid Khan.