Pakistan will honour two national giants of cricket, with former women’s captain Sana Mir to be conferred the Sitara-e-Imtiaz and men’s superstar Shahid Afridi to receive the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, fitting recognition for careers that reshaped cricket and inspired millions.
Mir, the face of Pakistan’s women’s cricket for over a decade, led with clarity and composure while mastering her craft as a wily off-spinner. She climbed to No. 1 in the ICC ODI bowling rankings in 2018 and retired as one of Pakistan’s most decorated women cricketers. Beyond the numbers, her real legacy is structural: advocacy for pathways, facilities, and visibility for girls in sport, turning promise into a pipeline.
Afridi’s honour salutes box-office brilliance and staying power. “Boom Boom” changed the pulse of Pakistan cricket, a whirlwind with the bat, a canny leg-spinner, and a force in the field. From that 37-ball century to World T20 glory and countless game-breaking bursts, Afridi made momentum his signature. Post-retirement, his Shahid Afridi Foundation has extended his impact across health, education, and clean water.
Together, these awards tell a broader story of Pakistani sport, evolution, reach, and service. Mir symbolizes the rise of women’s cricket from the margins to the mainstream; Afridi embodies the star wattage that keeps Pakistan central to the global conversation. Different trajectories, shared legacy.
As the nation prepares to celebrate them, one truth holds: trophies fade; trailblazing lasts. These honours simply formalize what fans have long known, Sana Mir and Shahid Afridi changed the game and lifted the country with it.
How could they forgot Shoaib Akhtar, The Rawalpindi Express?
انکو ایوارڈز کس capacity میں دیے ایک تو انکو اتنے بھاری معاوضے دو جوئے یہ الگ سے کھیلیں ایڈورٹائزمنٹ میں بھی الگ سے کمائیں اور سیاسی ایجنڈے بھی پورے کریں
Why not Wasim Akram? Shahid Afridi tested several times and only he handled few situations so wasim Akram name should keep not only in the list but to give him award for his overall performance.
I don’t know why they were rewarded there are better player available .younis khan shalod have been awarded as he has won world cup for pakistan.
Javed Miandad or Hanif Mohammad deserved
Giving awards to people who have no good credentials is a joke. How can such awards be granted like Rewriis to each other. So disgusting to see many blemished faces
Shahid Afridi totally deserved it as he left no shoe unpolished to gain this citation… What a shame!
Don’t think Afraidi deserves for any award .
Sana Mir and Shoaib Akhtar deserves but not Shahid Afridi