Pakistan's 2009 T20 World Cup Winners: Where are they now?

05. Ahmed Shehzad

A young 17-year-old then, Shehzad, featured in just one match in the opening game against England, where he scored just four runs. However, he later transformed into one of the most aggressive opening batters. Shehzad holds the record of being the first Pakistani player to score a century in all three formats of the game. Despite this remarkable achievement, he was not able to prolong his international career, with his last outing at the age of just 29. His most recent appearance was in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020. In late 2023, the right-hand batter announced his retirement from the PSL, alleging a deliberate effort by all six franchises to exclude him from the competition.

04. Kamran Akmal

The wicketkeeper-batter finished as Pakistan's highest run-scorer, scoring 188 runs across seven matches at an average of 26.85 and a strike rate of 125.33. Throughout the season, he clinched two Player of the Match awards. The first came against the Netherlands, where he scored 41 runs and executed four stumped dismissals. Akmal's second Player of the Match performance occurred against Ireland, where he scored 57 runs and getting a couple of batters stumped. Post-retirement, he has shifted his focus towards coaching and administrative roles, and in late 2023 he was appointed as the consultant to the chief selector by the board (PCB).

3. Misbah-ul-Haq

Misbah had the best opportunity to guide Pakistan to victory in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 against India, but unfortunately, he couldn't take his side over the line. In the 2009 edition, he managed to score only 82 runs in seven matches. However, he went on to become one of Pakistan's greatest batters by the end of his career. After retiring from international cricket in 2017, he took on the roles of the national head coach and chief selector. The 50-year-old also works as a popular cricket expert on television, and in 2023, he became a part of the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) cricket technical committee.

2. Shahid Afridi

Afridi, the legendary all-rounder, played a pivotal role in Pakistan's title victory at the 2009 T20 World Cup. He performed brilliantly with both bat and ball, scoring 176 runs from seven innings at an impressive average of 35.20, while also claiming 11 wickets. Afridi's standout performances came in the semifinals and finals, where he was awarded the Player of the Match on both occasions. Throughout his illustrious career, Afridi continued to make headlines, coming out of retirement multiple times and even leading the Men in Green team for a significant period. After his playing days, the veteran cricketer regularly appears on TV broadcasts to share his insights. Recently, he was appointed as the ambassador for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

1. Younis Khan

Khan was widely considered one of the greatest Pakistani batters of his era. During the 2009 T20 World Cup, he excelled not just with the bat, but also as a leader when he captained them to win the title. In six innings of that tournament, he scored 172 runs at an average of 57.33. Notably, the retired cricketer is still the only Pakistani batter to have breached the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket. He captained the Pakistan side during regular stints. The 46-year-old last represented his national side in 2017, and after his retirement, he served as the batting coach with the PCB. Recently, he is often seen voicing his opinions as a cricket expert.