Former Pakistan captain and iconic all-rounder Shahid Afridi has seen it all as a player. He scored what was once the fastest century in ODIs – off 37 balls – still owns the second best bowling analysis in ODI cricket (7-12), and has hit the most sixes in international cricket – 476.

But the one performance that is closest to Afridi’s heart is the 2009 World T20 win.

In that edition of the tournament, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the final in England.

Afridi scored 54 not out after picking up 1-20. It was a poignant moment for Pakistan cricket as the win in June that year came just four months after the horrific attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore that resulted in international cricket abandoning Pakistan for a decade.

Afridi said that win was important to heal the wounds of a nation as its cricketing image had taken a big hit.

“The 2009 World T20 win was memorable for me. Because Pakistan cricket was struggling a lot following the Sri Lanka incident. That win was very important to lift the spirit of the people of Pakistan at that time,” Afridi said in a video chat hosted by UCBrowser.