Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has been awarded the prestigious Hilal e Imtiaz, Pakistan’s second highest civilian honour, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the world of cricket and sports. The award was presented by President Asif Ali Zardari during a grand ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The former all rounder received the honour for his remarkable achievements in international cricket, especially for helping Pakistan secure the historic 2009 ICC World Twenty20 title. Afridi played a match winning role in the final against Sri Lanka national cricket team, scoring an unbeaten 54 runs and taking a crucial wicket to guide Pakistan to victory.
Apart from his international success, the award also recognised Afridi’s valuable contributions to county cricket in England and his leadership role in the World Championship of Legends. Following the ceremony, Afridi shared an emotional message on social media, saying the honour was not just his personal achievement but a moment of pride for the entire nation.
The former captain dedicated the award to the martyrs of Pakistan and thanked fans for their endless love, prayers and support throughout his cricket journey. Afridi stated that the recognition reflects the encouragement he received from millions of Pakistanis during his career.
Known for his aggressive batting and match winning performances, Afridi represented Pakistan across all formats for more than two decades. He played 398 One Day Internationals, scoring 8,064 runs and taking 395 wickets. In T20 Internationals, he featured in 99 matches, scoring 1,416 runs while claiming 98 wickets.
Afridi also enjoyed a successful career in franchise cricket, representing teams in the Pakistan Super League, Indian Premier League, Caribbean Premier League and several other major tournaments around the world.
