“Chacha” Iftikhar Ahmed Becomes a Crowd Favorite as Pakistan Clinches Series Against New Zealand

Pakistan’s middle-order batsman Iftikhar Ahmed has revealed that he now loves being called “Chacha” by cricket fans in the stadium. The nickname was given to him by Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam, and it has since stuck with him. Initially, Iftikhar was not pleased with the nickname, but he has grown to enjoy it, especially when the fans in the stadium chant it. The 32-year-old has stated that there is nothing wrong with the nickname, as it is a sign of support and love from the fans.

Iftikhar’s fighting fifty in the last ODI against New Zealand helped Pakistan win the series. He scored an entertaining innings of 94 runs off 72 balls, including eight boundaries and two maximums. Babar Azam, who gave Iftikhar the nickname, expressed his embarrassment for it but was happy that people enjoyed it.

Iftikhar was added to the national squad after Haris Sohail was ruled out of the series due to a shoulder injury before the third match. The right-hander has now become a crowd favorite, and he has requested the fans to continue enjoying his nickname.