Sarfaraz-Dhoni: Heartwarming Champions Trophy 2017 Story

A Picture of Friendship

This adorable picture melts hearts! It shows MS Dhoni with Sarfaraz Ahmed’s son. The photo was taken during the 2017 Champions Trophy. Dhoni held baby Abdullah, Sarfaraz’s son. This lovely moment happened right before the big India-Pakistan final.

Flash Forward to Today

Now, years later, the Champions Trophy is coming again in 2025. Sarfaraz recently told the story behind that special photo. He also shared what he talked about with Dhoni.

How the Photo Happened

Sarfaraz explained how it all started. “Family friends were visiting,” he said to Cricket Pakistan. “Dhoni came downstairs then.” Dhoni thought it was a great time for a picture. He wanted to capture the moment with Sarfaraz’s baby son.

Sarfaraz’s Triumph

Remember the 2017 Champions Trophy? Sarfaraz captained Pakistan to victory then. He was the first captain after Imran Khan to win a 50-over ICC title! Pakistan beat India in the final by a huge 180 runs.

Conversation with Dhoni

Sarfaraz also talked about his chat with Dhoni. “We spoke about wicket-keeping and cricket,” Sarfaraz mentioned. He asked Dhoni about balancing captaincy, batting and keeping. “Dhoni gave me very helpful tips,” Sarfaraz added. He said Dhoni was humble and gave great advice.

India vs Pakistan Again!

Get ready! India and Pakistan will play again in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Pakistan is hosting the tournament. However, the big India-Pakistan match will be in Dubai. It’s scheduled for Sunday, February 23rd.

Pakistan Hosts Big Event

This is a big deal for Pakistan. They are hosting a major ICC tournament again. It’s the first time since they co-hosted the 1996 World Cup!

Friendship Beyond Borders

Sarfaraz also spoke about player friendships. “Indian and Pakistani players respect each other,” he said. They are friendly on and off the field. It’s common to see players chatting together after matches. Shoaib Malik, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, and Dhoni are often seen together.

No Bilateral Series Since Long

Sadly, India and Pakistan haven’t played a bilateral series since 2013.

Teams in the Group

Besides India and Pakistan, two more teams are in their Champions Trophy group. New Zealand and Bangladesh will also compete.

Who Will Win?

Pakistan wants to defend their title. India is aiming for their third win. Winning a third title would make India the record holder. Right now, India and Australia both have two Champions Trophy wins.