Shahid Afridi To Champion T20 World Cup 2024 As ICC Ambassador

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was appointed as the ambassador for the T20 World Cup 2024 by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday. Afridi played a crucial role in Pakistan's T20 World Cup victory in 2009.

The T20 World Cup 2024 is set to take place in the USA and the West Indies, starting from June 2. Shahid Afridi joins a distinguished group of ambassadors, including India's Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle of the West Indies, and sprint legend Usain Bolt.

"The ICC Men's T20 World Cup is an event that is very close to my heart," Afridi said in an ICC media release. "From being Player of the Tournament in the inaugural edition to lifting the trophy in 2009, some of my favourite career highlights have come from competing on this stage. I'm thrilled to be part of this edition (as ambassador), where we will see more teams, more matches and even more drama than ever before."

Afridi's Achievements

In the 2009 edition held in England, Afridi was the second-highest run-getter for Pakistan with 176 runs at a strike rate of 140, including two fifties. The former Pakistan captain, who competed in six editions of the T20 World Cup, was named Player of the Match in both the semifinal against South Africa and the final against Sri Lanka that year.

He scored an unbeaten 54 off 40 balls in the final at Lord's, leading Pakistan to an eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka. Afridi, who was also Player of the Tournament in 2007 when his team lost to India in the final, expressed his anticipation for Pakistan's match against India on June 8 in New York.

Anticipation for India vs Pakistan Match

"I am particularly excited to witness the India vs Pakistan fixture on June 9. It is one of the great rivalries in sport and New York will be a fitting stage for this unmissable encounter between two great teams," he added.

(With Input From PTI)