In a heartwarming ceremony that transcends the boundaries of cricket, Pakistan’s all-rounder, Aliya Riaz, recently announced her engagement to commentator Ali Younis. The news has set the cricketing world filled with excitement and admiration for the couple.
Born on September 24, 1992, Aliya Riaz, a right-handed batter and right-arm off-break bowler has represented Pakistan in 62 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 83 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) scoring a total of 1209 runs and claiming 10 wickets in ODIs, along with 938 runs and 20 dismissals in T20I matches.
Aliya’s cricketing journey reached new heights in October 2018 when she was named in Pakistan’s squad for the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 tournament held in the West Indies. Displaying exceptional skill and determination, she emerged as the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan in the tournament, claiming six dismissals in four matches.
Known for her power-hitting, the all-rounder has emerged as a match-winner for the team in recent series, excelling in her role as a finisher. As early as earlier this year, Aliya smashed a 16-ball fifty, the 3rd fastest in women’s T20 cricket, reminiscent of another impactful knock she delivered back in 2015 during a One Dayer, a scintillating 39-ball 106*.
Meanwhile, Ali Younis is a Pakistani commentator, who is also the younger brother of former Pakistan men’s cricket team captain Waqar Younis.
Pakistan's all-rounder Aliya Riaz engaged with Waqar Younis' brother Ali Younis. 💍#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/8vg48PwSAl
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) April 1, 2024
The engagement ceremony, a celebration of love and companionship, was held at Wah Cantt and was attended by close relatives and friends. The union of Aliya Riaz and Ali Younis signifies not only a personal milestone for the couple but also a coming together of two prominent figures in the cricketing society.