Pakistan's cricketers take turn on the catwalk

Former Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan and fast bowler Umar Gul turned heads at a bridal fashion show this weekend with a rare turn on the catwalk.

Wearing a blackish grey shirwani -- a long suit worn by grooms in Pakistan -- Younis smiled all down the runway in his first-ever appearance in a fashion show in Karachi on Saturday, while Gul wore an off-white shirwani.

Fashion show regular Hina Sheikh gave the players a resounding thumbs up.

"It was delightful to watch cricketers on the ramp," said Ms Sheikh. "Younis was more confident and although Gul was a bit reserved and shaky at the start, he finished the job well.

"Both looked stunning."

Gul said he enjoyed the experience but had no intention of swapping the wicket for the catwalk.

"A friend had invited me to walk on the ramp and although I enjoyed it but I have no plans to join modelling in future because my focus is only on cricket," he said.

Popular all-rounder Shahid Afridi was also invited but was unable to attend.

Younis, Gul and Afridi all hail from the deeply conservative northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where modelling and acting in films are not seen as decent occupations.

All three have modelled in various advertisements in Pakistan, with Afridi commanding the highest fees among recent and former players, advertising products ranging from soft drinks to mobile phones and shampoo.