Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has been appointed as the ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday. Afridi joins an esteemed list of ambassadors for the event, including the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt, West Indies cricket legend Chris Gayle, and Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh.
Expressing his excitement about the role, Afridi highlighted the growing prominence of T20 World Cups over the years. “T20 World Cups have gone from strength to strength in recent years, and I’m thrilled to be part of this edition, where we will see more teams, more matches, and even more drama than ever before,” he said. He is particularly eager to witness the India vs. Pakistan match on June 9, calling it one of the great rivalries in sport, with New York serving as a fitting stage for this highly anticipated encounter.
Afridi, who played in six T20 World Cups for Pakistan, was named Player of the Tournament in the inaugural edition and was Man of the Match in the 2009 final, where he led Pakistan to victory over Sri Lanka.
The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is set to be co-hosted by the United States of America (USA) and the West Indies from June 1 to June 29. Reflecting on his memories, Afridi shared, “The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is an event that is very close to my heart. From being Player of the Tournament in the inaugural edition to lifting the trophy in 2009, some of my favorite career highlights have come from competing on this stage.”
