There’s a reason why Shahid Afridi is nicknamed as ‘Boom Boom’ by his fans.
Celebrating his 37th birthday, all-rounder Afridi announced his international retirement last month but will go down as one of Pakistan’s gifted cricketers to take to the field.
During his time, he has played some astonishing innings in major competitions around the world thanks to his aggressive batting style.
It didn’t take him long to announce himself on the big stage, making headlines as a 16-year-old, when he set a ODI-record 37-ball ton in his first innings.
He went on to captain the national team in all formats, but it was in T20s, where Afridi began to enjoy his best days.
He holds the record of most wickets (97) and most player-of-the match awards and has more than 500 wickets and 23,000 international runs to his name.
Other sport stars born on this day
1952: Martin O’Neill, coach of Ireland and former Leicester City and Sunderland manager (65).
1953: Carlos Queiroz, current manager of Iran and exassistant for Manchester United (64).
1983: Anthony Tupou, Australian professional rugby league footballer for Newcastle Knights (34).
1989: Carlos Vela, Mexican and former Arsenal footballer who plays for Real Socieded (28).