On May 13, 2026, Shahid Afridi, the renowned Pakistani all-rounder and former captain, was awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan's second-highest civilian honor, for his contributions to cricket. The award was presented by President Asif Ali Zardari during a ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad. Afridi expressed his gratitude on social media, stating that the honor represents not only his achievements but also those of the entire Pakistani nation. He dedicated the award to Pakistan's martyrs, acknowledging their sacrifices for the country. Afridi's illustrious career spanned from 1996 to 2015, during which he played in over 500 international matches, scoring 8,064 runs and taking 395 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs) alone. He is the fourth cricketer to receive the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, joining the ranks of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis.