10 cricketers who married other cricketers’ sisters

Cricketers often give their all on the field, but at times, the relationships formed within this circuit go more than friendships or team environments, extending into personal lives through marriage and family. In several instances, cricketers have married the sisters of fellow cricketers. These relations, though private and personal, reflect on how the cricketing bonds can turn into something more familiar.

Here are 10 cricketing stars who are married to other cricketers’ sister:

10. Akram Khan and Faruque Ahmed

Akram Khan, the former Bangladesh captain and BCB director, is married to Sabina Akram. Faruque Ahmed, another former skipper and selector, is married to Shahria Yasmin. Interestingly, Sabina and Shahria are sisters, making Akram and Faruk part of the same extended family. Despite Akram being younger than Faruque in age, he married the elder sister, while Faruque married the younger one.
 
Both played through the 1990s and into the early 2000s, later taking up administrative roles. In 2024, Faruk Ahmed’s term as BCB president came to an end after a no-confidence motion was passed by several directors, a motion Akram Khan notably did not sign.

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9. Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah

Bangladesh’s two most dependable batters, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad, have taken their nation’s name to the world map with historic cricketing performances. However, they are also brothers-in-law.

Mushfiqur married Jannatul Kifayet Mondi in 2014, who happens to be the younger sister of Mahmudullah’s wife, Jannatul Kawsar Mishti, making them double brother-in-law. The couple has a son, Mayan. On the other hand, Mahmudullah tied the knot with Mishti in 2011. Mahmudullah has two sons, Raeed and Mayed. The two cricketers have been by each other both on and off the field.

8. Usman Qadir and Umar Akmal

Legendary Pakistani spinner Abdul Qadir’s daughter and sister of Usman Qadir, Noor Amna, is married to wicketkeeper-batter Umar Akmal. Usman represented Pakistan in limited-overs formats, now plays for the Hawkesbury Cricket Club in Sydney, Australia.

On the other hand, Umar Akmal had a decent international career, featuring in 221 games across formats for Pakistan. He later transitioned into a commentator and is often seen as an expert in cricket shows.

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7. Saleem Malik and Ijaz Ahmed

Saleem Malik and Ijaz Ahmed, two of Pakistan’s most dependable middle-order batters through the 1990s, were also brothers-in-law, having married a pair of sisters. The duo played together in 39 Tests and 174 ODIs.

However, their personal and professional lives were involved in controversy. Both were investigated during the match-fixing probe led by the Qayyum Commission. Malik, who had once captained Pakistan, became the first cricketer to receive a life ban. While Ijaz was cleared, but later faced unrelated legal trouble over financial forgery in 2009.

6. Vikram Rathore and Ashish Kapoor

Vikram Rathour and Ashish are two former cricketers from Punjab and are also brothers-in-law. Rathour, who guided Punjab to their only Ranji Trophy title in 1992-93. At the same time, his brother-in-law, Ashish Kapoor, an off-spinner, earned a spot in India’s 1996 World Cup squad and played a handful of Tests and ODIs.

Despite their limited runs at the highest level, both have transitioned into coaching roles. Kapoor took up a selector’s role for India A and U-19 teams, while Rathour is a former India batting coach and is currently associated with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

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5. Alec Stewart and Mark Butcher

Alec Stewart and Mark Butcher, who were teammates at Surrey and for England, were also family for a time. Butcher had married Judy Stewart, Alec’s sister (with whom he had a daughter), making the two brothers-in-law during their playing careers.

Butcher and Stewart played through a difficult time for English cricket. While Stewart was a regular member of the team, Butcher’s career saw a series of highs and lows, both on and off the field. His marriage to Judy brought the two men even closer, but after the fallout from the marriage due to an extramarital affair, the relationship took a toll on Butcher’s form. 

4. Darren Lehmann and Craig White

Craig White and Darren Lehmann’s cricketing friendship soon turned into a family relationship. The two cricketers, who shared dressing rooms at Yorkshire, were connected when Lehmann married White’s sister, Andrea.

In the late 1990s, when Lehmann asked his teammate Craig to help him explore Scarborough. White revealed that his sister Andrea could show Lehmann around. Lehmann reflected how Andrea didn’t know him much and was less than impressed by his post-beer session with fellow cricketer David Boon. However, after years, the two married in 1999. Interestingly, Lehmann had told Andrea his international career was behind him, but he was recalled to the Australian side and later faced off against brother-in-law Craig White in an England-Australia clash.

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3. Ajit Agarkar and Mazhar Ghadially

Former Indian pacer and current chairman of the BCCI selection committee, Ajit Agarkar’s is married to Fatima Ghadially, who happens to be the sister of his best friend and former domestic cricketer, Mazhar Ghadially.

Mazhar and Ajit played together for Mumbai in the domestic circuit. Fatima, often seen accompanying her brother to matches and events, developed a bond with Ajit. The couple tied the knot in a private ceremony in Mumbai in 2002, and have been married for 23 years now. They also hosted a reception to which almost every member of the Indian cricket team was invited. The couple also has a son, Raj Agarkar. Today, Ajit is not only Mazhar’s best friend but also his brother-in-law.

2. Faf du Plessis and Hardus Viljoen

Former South African skipper Faf du Plessis’ half-sister, Rhemi Rynners, is married to pacer Hardus Viljoen. The couple tied the knot in December 2019. The relationship gained significant attention during a 2019 Mzansi Super League match when du Plessis, then captain of Paarl Rocks, was asked about Viljoen’s absence from the playing XI. To which Faf replied, “Viljoen is not playing today because he’s lying in bed with my sister, as they got married yesterday.” 

Viljoen, who has played one Test for South Africa in 2016, has featured in various T20 leagues around the globe. Notably, he had been in a long-term relationship with Rhemi, a brand marketing professional. The duo announced their engagement in April 2019, followed by a private wedding later that year. 

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1. Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath:

Legendary Indian cricketers, Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath, are considered two of the greatest batters of the game also share a personal-family relationship off the field. Gavaskar is the brother-in-law of Viswanath, as the latter married Gavaskar’s sister, Kavita, in 1978. Notably, the couple also has a son, Daivik Viswanath. Gavaskar himself, during a BCCI disciplinary hearing, revealed an unheard story of when Viswanath’s brother informed Gavaskar about Kavita and Vishy’s relationship.

“He had been dropping a hint, but maybe I wasn’t able to take it. On one of the tours, he was singing a (Bollywood) song: ‘Main kahi kavi na ban jaoon tere pyar me ae Kavita!. I was hauled up by the BCCI for writing an article where I called the selectors ‘court jesters.’ So, they called me for a disciplinary hearing at a hotel in Bangalore. And then we took a break for lunch, and till then no progress was made.”

At lunch, when I came back to my room, I found (B) Raghunath (Viswanath’s brother), who asked me if I had spoken to my father (Manohar). Taken aback, I asked him: ‘Why should I speak to my father?’ ‘You need to speak to your father about Kavita and Vishy,’ he replied. So, it came bang in the middle of a disciplinary hearing, where my mind was completely elsewhere! That’s when I came to know. All of us in the family are delighted that everything went on smoothly,” the former Indian opener said as quoted by TOI.