Shoaib Akhtar weds in low key event

E-Paper | May 02, 2026

HARIPUR: The wedding ceremony of Pakistan's former express bowler Shoaib Akhtar was held in Haripur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 23 June, DawnNews reported on Wednesday.

The report further said that during the nikkah ceremony the 'haq mehr' was set at Rs500,000 adding that the newly-wed couple had departed from Haripur after the 'rukhsati' event.

The low-key affair was attended by family members and close friends of the groom and 20-year-old bride.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jun 25, 2014 09:47pm

Heartiest congratulations to the Rawalpindi Express for getting married and embarking upon a new journey in life. Best of luck to him and his family. Wishing Shoaib Akhtar a happy, prosperous and successful married life.

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ahmed

Jun 25, 2014 09:56pm

Congratulations to Shoaib !

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amer

Jun 25, 2014 10:02pm

39 yrs male marries 20 yrs old girl. Stay Classy Shoaib ..

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Dr Ali Raza

Jun 25, 2014 10:04pm

I think the video said that the bride is 20 years younger than the groom, so please correct the news

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nadeem

Jun 25, 2014 10:08pm

Good.may be we can see another sohaib in next 20 years

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Viking Star

Jun 25, 2014 10:13pm

He married someone half his age? Thats weird. Last month when there was rumour about this marriage, he denied upfront fearing people would laught at him because of such a huge age difference. No wonder why he kept a low profile event.

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Justice-For-All

Jun 25, 2014 10:14pm

Congrats Shoaib, I'm wondering, whats the point of emphazing on bride's age? She's 20, Adult and can marry both legally & as per religious point of view..

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Jawaid

Jun 25, 2014 10:15pm

Jodi salamat rahey......I wonder if shoib was still unmarried......

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Shailesh

Jun 25, 2014 10:20pm

20 year old!!! How old is this dude ?

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Bizz

Jun 25, 2014 10:44pm

Who is the lucky girl?

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bilal

Jun 25, 2014 10:44pm

Could he not find anyone his age??? But anyway congratulations to the newly Wed :)

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Jun 25, 2014 10:45pm

Congratulations shoaib!!! But my question is to everyone and not just to a particular country or religion. We have seen marriages with this age gap around the world and everywhere. Is it good for happy family life, is it not almost a generation gap and expectations would be totally different? Just curious!!!

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rajan

Jun 25, 2014 10:48pm

Dont you think that 20 year old is too old for him?? There is no reason to doubt, but media is reporting that bride is much younger than 20.

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Saad Zafar

Jun 25, 2014 11:03pm

Congrats Shoaib.

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Abrar-ul-Haque

Jun 25, 2014 11:05pm

While its pleasing to know about a good event, but who is this guy in the video without introducing himself and why does he have to take pains in explaining what happened, khahmkhah making the event a suspect. The details he has explained are already those which are always narrated by Nikah Khwan while performing the ceremony. The only positive thing in his statement that I liked was that there were no 'rasoomat'. Best of luck to Shoaib, the bride and their families for a very happy, successful and prosperous life.

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Safar Shah

Jun 25, 2014 11:12pm

Congratulations to the couple

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m kay

Jun 25, 2014 11:28pm

Aha!! Finally clean bowled over. Heartiest Congratulations on the new phase of his life.

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Qamar

Jun 25, 2014 11:35pm

Good news Shoaib. May Allah bless you both.

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Raja

Jun 25, 2014 11:49pm

Who cares?

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Iqbal bhai

Jun 25, 2014 11:52pm

The age gap disturbs me. Am I alone?

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Combaticus

Jun 26, 2014 12:07am

" the nikkah ceremony the 'haq mehr' was set at Rs500,000 adding that the newly-wed couple had departed from Haripur after the 'rukhsati' event " Could this report get more tacky ?

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Moiz Omar

Jun 26, 2014 12:07am

As long as the marriage is between two consenting adults (at least of 18 or 19 years of age) who are not of direct close family patronage, it should be no one's business.

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ashok pandey

Jun 26, 2014 12:37am

Congratulations to sohaib...one of my favourite bowlers of pakistan

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Shahid Khan

Jun 26, 2014 01:13am

Congratulations!!! How great of you to conduct the ceremony in simple way...Our society need to learn this.

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Nasir-ud-din Soomro

Jun 26, 2014 01:19am

Finally our Railways Express had derailed(married),I wish happy marriage to a man of miraculous bolwing at one point in time

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sheikh

Jun 26, 2014 02:05am

Congrats to the Rawalpindi Express. God bless him and his new family.

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Whatashame

Jun 26, 2014 02:14am

20 Years old?

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Dr. Aziz

Jun 26, 2014 02:14am

Congrats to the Rawalpindi Express. May Allah bless him and his new family with joy and happiness...

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fjk

Jun 26, 2014 02:15am

Hope it is a marriage 'death do us apart'. There is always apprehension when one 1/2 has gained celebrity status. Good luck to them.

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Anarchist

Jun 26, 2014 02:43am

@Iqbal bhai You are definitely not alone and its none of your concern.

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faisal

Jun 26, 2014 02:49am

@Iqbal bhai If the family of Shoaib and his new wife is not disturb, why are you getting disturb for no reason. Leave them alone.

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suraiya

Jun 26, 2014 03:24am

we must appreciate the fact that he got married in a simple ceremony rather than being concerned about the age of the bride! get your priorities right Dawn! Pathetic way to report the news!

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Faruq

Jun 26, 2014 03:51am

Both of them are old enough to make their own decisions. People should stop commenting on the age. It's not like he married a minor. Congrats to the bride and groom!

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Jun 26, 2014 08:46am

Many congratulations to the couple.

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Arif Ali

Jun 26, 2014 12:54pm

I think when Shoaib clean bowled Sachin and Dravid in consecutive balls this girl was a just born.

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Ashok Pandey

Jun 27, 2014 02:58am

Hey Guys.. why the fuss about the age difference???? Both are adult and both are marrying by consent. Did anyone make a fuss when Saif Ali Khan Pataudi married Kareena.. There is a age difference even over there. When Aamir married Kiran?? Its not a forcible marriage Why targeting this lad?? Respect this event. Its a big day for him.

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Fawad Bilgrami

Jun 27, 2014 04:40am

What's wrong with you guys? He can marry whoever he wants. Both are adults and there's no such thing as age difference. Congrats to our Hero. You've served the country well. Hope you start the next chapter of your life well with Allah's Blessings.

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Siddhartha Shastri

Jun 27, 2014 06:20am

Congratulations to Shoaib and his bride, and best wishes for a long and happy marriage! For those who have commented on the age difference, let us not forget the other celebrity weddings where the groom was much older than the bride. Dilip Kumar was 44 when he married a 22 year old Saira Banu. And IIRC, Rajesh Khanna was 34 when he married Dimple who was 17. Who are we to have any say in an essentially Mian-Bibi affair?

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Randomstranger

Jun 27, 2014 09:12am

Congratulations. May God bless you with a son.

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IRFAN

Jun 27, 2014 09:34am

Congratulations shoaib bai. Heartiest congratulations to the Rawalpindi Express for getting married and embarking upon a new journey in life. Best of luck to him and his family. Wishing Shoaib Akhtar a happy, prosperous and successful married life.

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AGK

Jun 27, 2014 12:34pm

I'm a little surprised that no one finds this a little alarming. In a world where there is an increasing encouragement for women to wed once they acheive both physical as well mental maturity, people are celebrating and congratulating the marriage of a 20 year old to some one almost twice her age.

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Mohammad Iqbal

Jun 27, 2014 12:59pm

Dont go after the age. When Dilip Kumar married Saira Bano the age differene was almost 20 years. Still they made an happy journey . So let us wish our express bowler all the success in life and PCB must use his services to groom more Rawalpindi expresses.

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Sam

Jun 27, 2014 01:57pm

@Randomstranger - why only son ?? typical sexist comment and chauvinistic mentality.

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Muhammed Ali

Jun 27, 2014 03:04pm

@nadeem What a wasted talent!!

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Vince V James

Jun 27, 2014 04:27pm

@bilal He wasn't looking for a 39 year old.

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Vince V James

Jun 27, 2014 04:28pm

@JJ 10 year age gap is regarded as a 'generation' gap.

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Vince V James

Jun 27, 2014 04:39pm

@Randomstranger What is wrong having a daughter?

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Vince V James

Jun 27, 2014 04:40pm

@Sam I totally agree with you Sam. I have 2 wonderful daughters and never ever thought about having a son.

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mian

Jun 27, 2014 07:29pm

@Viking Star why weird? she is adult and it is his personal decision to marry anyone who is adult and mature enough to live a married life with him. Best wishes for both of them.

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Suq Madieq

Jun 28, 2014 12:01am

@amer I have read the big book. It could have been worse.

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aaqman

Jun 28, 2014 09:45am

May Allah bless the bride and groom, there is nothing wrong with anybody age. perfectly legal marriage and very nice to see it happening like in a Muslim way. Best of luck dude.

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A K Tiwari

Jun 28, 2014 11:24am

@Dr Ali Raza on a TV show in India Shoaib said his bride was 17 years and there were protests.

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Muhammed Ali

Jun 28, 2014 07:16pm

She has married the name not the man..

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Abdul-Majeed

Jun 28, 2014 07:48pm

There is this news and there was another news that the parents of a 17 year old girl slit her throat and that of her 31 year old husband because they fell in love and got married. If the law of 'honor' in this wretched land called Pakistan, is to be upheld, then accroding to the illiterate Pakistani Jurga, Shoaib should run - and run fast!!

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Yasir

Jun 29, 2014 03:18am

Many congratz to Shoaib! I dont understand why age becomes an issue to criticize or gossip about in our society. We are muslims n yet so close minded. Islam doesnt lay any such conditions n we dont even learn from Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) life either.

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Sarwat

Jun 29, 2014 07:49am

Is he mentally stable to get married?

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khanm

Jun 29, 2014 03:49pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad if you call him Rawalpindi express. he will always be late never in time... Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present. so consider the present as your gift and enjoy your marriage life but don't be late....

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Moiz Omar

Jun 29, 2014 09:47pm

@Randomstranger That is so sexist. Why is a daughter seen as a burden? Regardless of gender a child is a blessing.

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