ICC announces Shahid Afridi as an ambassador for the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup

ICC announces Shahid Afridi as an ambassador for the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup

The Former Pakistan Captain, Player of the Tournament and Men’s T20 World Cup winner selected as the Ambassador for the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup

The Pakistan cricket icon, Shahid Afridi was unveiled as the latest event ambassador for one of the biggest cricket spectacles, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in West Indies and USA.

He now becomes part of an elite group of ambassadors including ex-Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh, West Indian hard hitter Chris Gayle and Olympic legend Usain Bolt.

Afridi is naturally linked with Pakistan’s most famous times in the T20 World Cup contest. He produced a Man of the Match performance in the finals of the inaugural tournament in 2007 and was part of the champions’ team in 2009.

Afridi stepped up for Pakistan in both of those years –he was the Player of the Tournament in the 2007 version where they lost in the finals to India. Nevertheless, they wasted no time in forgetting that defeat and held the cup in the very next tournament; Afridi was awarded the Player of the Match both in the semi-final, against South Africa, as well as the final, all-rounder style, against Sri Lanka.

The former Pakistan captain looked back on the T20 World Cup fondly and showed how excited he was to become a part of the T20 World Cup as a brand ambassador in the next event.

‘‘The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is an event that is very close to my heart,’ said Afridi. Some of the most memorable moments of my career starting from being awarded the Player of the tournament in the very first tournament till the time I won the tournament in 2009 have been playing on this ground.”

He further added in his statement while expressing his gratitude- ‘Previous T20 World Cups have got bigger and better in recent years, and I can hardly wait for this World Cup where there will be more teams, more games and expectantly more twists and turns than any other.”

“Speaking about the games, I am looking forward to seeing India v Pakistan on June 9th; it is one of the classic rivalries in sports, and New York will be the perfect backdrop for this already classic India-Pakistan cricket game between two great teams.”

Claire Furlong, ICC General Manager – Marketing and Communications, added: “Shahid participated in six ICC Men’s T20 World Cups, out of which he was lead from the front twice and also claimed the Player of the Match award when CSK won the championship in 2009.”

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup begins on June 1st, with co-hosts USA and Canada battling it out at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.