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.