Former Pakistan Captain Shahid Afridi has been awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s second-highest civilian honour, during an official ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad in recognition of his contribution to cricket and sports. The award places Afridi among a select group of Pakistan cricketers to receive the distinction, joining Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
معروف کرکٹر شاہد خان آفریدی کو کھیل کے شعبے میں نمایاں خدمات پر ہلال امتیاز کا اعزاز دیا گیا pic.twitter.com/5iw0toGrqk
— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) May 13, 2026
President Asif Ali Zardari presented the honour as Afridi was recognised for his long-standing contribution to Pakistan cricket across formats, including his role in the country’s 2009 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup triumph. Afridi played a decisive role in the final against Sri Lanka, scoring an unbeaten 54 from 40 deliveries and also taking a wicket as Pakistan secured the title in London.
Afridi represented Pakistan internationally from 1996 to 2018 and featured in more than 500 matches across formats during a career defined by aggressive batting, leg-spin bowling and match-winning performances. He remained one of the most recognisable figures in Pakistan cricket throughout the modern white-ball era and became widely known for his attacking style and six-hitting ability.
The former All-rounder played 398 One-Day Internationals for Pakistan, scoring 8,064 runs with six centuries and 39 half-centuries while also claiming 395 wickets, including nine five-wicket hauls. In T20 Internationals, Afridi appeared in 99 matches, scoring 1,416 runs and taking 98 wickets.
Afridi also built an extensive franchise cricket career after becoming one of the most sought-after T20 players globally. He represented teams across the Pakistan Super League, Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League, Bangladesh Premier League, Lanka Premier League and Champions League Twenty20 during the expansion of franchise cricket worldwide.
His international career began against Kenya in Nairobi in 1996 before he produced one of the most explosive innings in ODI history later that year with a 37-ball century, which stood as the fastest hundred in the format at the time. Afridi went on to hit 476 sixes in international cricket during his career.
Former Pakistan Captain Shahid Afridi said in a statement on X, “Receiving the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz from Pakistan is an honour for me. This is not just Shahid Afridi’s honour but the pride of the entire Pakistani nation. It is your love, prayers and support that have brought me this far,”
صدرِ پاکستان کی جانب سے ملنے والا تمغۂ امتیاز میرے لیے اعزاز کی بات ہے۔
یہ صرف شاہد آفریدی کا نہیں بلکہ پوری پاکستانی قوم کا اعزاز ہے ❤️🇵🇰آپ لوگوں کی محبت، دعاؤں اور سپورٹ نے ہی مجھے یہاں تک پہنچایا۔
یہ ایوارڈ اُن شہداء کے نام بھی ہے جنہوں نے وطن کیلئے اپنی جانوں کی قربانی دی۔… pic.twitter.com/5f2mezG3s3— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) May 13, 2026
Afridi later dedicated the honour to Pakistan’s martyrs and thanked supporters for their continued encouragement throughout his cricket career as tributes continued to emerge following the ceremony.
