Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi, born on March 1, 1980, is a renowned former cricketer and captain of the Pakistan national cricket team. Known for his explosive batting and all-round capabilities, Afridi was a right-handed leg spinner and batsman who made a significant impact on the world of cricket.

His journey began in 1996 when he made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Kenya. Afridi quickly made headlines in his second ODI match against Sri Lanka, where he set the record for the fastest century in ODI history, achieving this remarkable feat in just thirty-seven deliveries. He made his Test debut in 1998 against Australia and later entered the T20 International arena in 2006.

Afridi's leadership skills shone brightly when he was named player of the tournament in the 2007 T20 World Cup. He played a pivotal role in the 2009 T20 World Cup final, scoring an unbeaten fifty-four and taking one wicket for twenty runs, leading Pakistan to victory. Following this triumph, he succeeded Younis Khan as the T20I captain and later took on the role of ODI captain in 2010.

Despite a brief stint as Test captain, Afridi led Pakistan to the semi-finals of the 2011 Cricket World Cup. However, he faced challenges in his captaincy, leading to his removal in 2011. After retiring from ODI cricket in 2015 and stepping down from T20 captaincy in 2016, Afridi announced his retirement from international cricket in February 2017. He made a short return in 2018 for a charity match but officially retired again later that year.

Beyond cricket, Afridi is dedicated to philanthropy through the Shahid Afridi Foundation, focusing on education and healthcare. He has collaborated with UNICEF on anti-polio campaigns and played a crucial role in aiding communities during the 2019 Coronavirus pandemic, despite contracting COVID-19 himself in June 2020. His charitable efforts earned him recognition as one of the top twenty most charitable athletes in 2015.