Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi was born on 1st March in 1975. He is known as Shahid Afridi, also recognized as Boom Boom Afridi. He was a Pakistani international cricketer and was the former captain of the Pakistan national cricket team. He was an all-rounder, respected for his consistent bowling and bating. He drew greater attention for his aggressive batting style and got the tittle Boom Boom. Afridi was the world record holder for the fastest ODI century in 37 deliveries and he holds the world record of most sixes in the history of ODI cricket.
Boom Boom – The Cricket Sensation
On October 4, 1996, a 21-year-old Pathan arrived on the pitch in Nairobi. Batting at No. 3, it was only his 2nd match. He was up against the golden generation of Sri Lanka, which had just won the world cup. He had arrived in the team as a backup spinner, and suddenly, he was playing in the top order. If he was afraid, he didn’t show it. He just did what he did best: destroying the opposition. On that day, several records were broken and a name was etched in the hearts of everyone for the next 2 decades. Shahid Afridi had arrived, in the best way possible.
A veteran of 450+ matches and an artist of 441 wickets and 11,196 runs, Afridi was nothing short of a game-changer. His aggressive style of batting ushered in the big-hitting era that cricket today is all about. In the span of his career, Afridi played a vital role in many wins, often snatching a win from the jaws of defeat. He was the leading wicket-taker in 2011, a man of the final in 2009, and player of the tournament in the 2007 editions of the world cup. Having the 2nd best bowling figures in Odi’s and the longest international six further cement his status as a legendary player. The hearts of millions broke when their hero announced the end of his cricketing career.
The Philanthropic Work
Social Work, serving the country is Shahid Afridi’s second inning, after cricket, he is now serving the poor and the needy. The classical contribution in social works by stepping into the field himself is loved by the people. The people of Pakistan already love him for his success as a cricketer and now when they see their hero on the field, they are proud. Indeed everyone else is as well. His love for humanity has compelled him to do such good deeds and is lauded across the country and even beyond the borders.
In March 2014, Shahid Afridi established a Foundation which aims to provide healthcare and education facilities in Pakistan those who are in need. He was named among the world’s most charitable athletes Do Something in August 2015. UNICEF and many Pakistani authorities have taken Shahid Afridi for the anti-polio campaign in the tribal belt of Waziristan region.
Awards
- On 23 March 2010, Afridi was awarded the Pride of Performance by President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari.
- On 23 March 2018, he was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz by President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain
Shahid Afridi Foundation
Shahid Afridi Foundation is serving the people under the exceptional motto of ‘HopeNotOut’. Spreading happiness and presenting people with hope, he is one of the most loved and esteemed personality of Pakistan. Supporting not only the health sector or the poor people but even the teachers and educational sector. His was work is loved and appreciated everywhere. One of the True Heroes of Pakistan
When the coronavirus gripped the country, Shahid Afridi was amongst the first to take action. He gathered all financial resources at hand, and began donating rations to the devastated areas of KPK. Risking his own life, he would go house to house to create ease for the affected. To increase his reach, Afridi even offered advertising services to brands in return for rations for the needy. All of this almost proved fatal when he was diagnosed with Covid-19. Luckily, God had better plans as Afridi recovered and is back on the field to save the day.
