Wedding season in India-Pakistan cricket: From Shaheen Shah to KL Rahul, 5 players who recently got married

After a hectic domestic and international cricket season, Pakistani and Indian players seem to be caught up in another busy spell — the wedding spell!

As many as five cricketers from both countries recently got married during this lean playing period and started the new innings of their lives. Most opted for intimate wedding ceremonies due to the stardom they gained on the field. Some took to social media to make the big announcement and share beautiful pictures.

Here's a list of the cricketers who got married in 2023:

Shaheen Shah Afridi marries Ansha

Pakistan pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi married Ansha Afridi, daughter of former captain Shahid Afridi. The grand wedding ceremony took place in Karachi on February 3, with many Pakistani cricketers in attendance.

The 22-year-old got engaged to Ansha last year, and the couple finally got married on Friday. His father-in-law Shahid took to Twitter to confirm the nuptial bond.

"Daughter is the most beautiful flower of your garden because they blossom with great blessing. A daughter is someone you laugh with, dream with, and love with all your heart. As parent, I gave my daughter in Nikkah to @iShaheenAfridi, congratulations to the two of them," he wrote on Twitter.

Axar Patel gets hitched

Axar Patel married Meha Patel in Vadodara, Gujarat, on January 26. The Indian cricketer had been engaged to Meha for almost a year before they decided to find some time out of their busy schedule to get married. The couple wore white wedding attire and shared some adorable pictures with their fans.

KL Rahul weds Athiya Shetty

Indian cricketer KL Rahul and Bollywood actor Athiya Shetty tied the knot in an intimate ceremony on Monday, January 23. The duo got married in the presence of close family members and friends, at Athiya's actor father Suniel Shetty's farmhouse in Khandala, which is located about 82km from Mumbai. The newly married couple took to Instagram to share pictures from the wedding ceremony.

"In your light, I learn how to love…" Today, with our most loved ones, we got married in the home that's given us immense joy and serenity. With a heart full of gratitude and love, we seek your blessings on this journey of togetherness," they wrote on their respective social media handles.

• 'Most beautiful flower': Shahid Afridi pens emotional note on daughter's marriage to Shaheen Afridi