Pakistan's victorious playing 11 from T20 World Cup 2009 final - where are they now?
The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup proved to be a disastrous one for Pakistan having failed to qualify for the playoffs. One must not forget the fact that they are one of the former champions who won the second edition of the competition back in 2009. June 21 marks the 15th anniversary of Pakistan’s historic triumph at the iconic Lord’s in London.
One of the strongest Asian nations in the world of cricket, Pakistan's below-par showing in the ongoing edition of the tournament came as a shocker to their fans and former players alike. Losses against the USA and arch-rivals India were enough to knock them out of the competition.
However, Pakistan has a rich history in the game and the T20 World Cup win in 2009 was just a testimony to their talent and success in the white ball format. With T20 having just gained prominence with the success of the inaugural edition of the World Cup in 2007, Pakistan played brilliantly all through the tournament and defeated Sri Lanka in a relatively one sided final by eight wickets.
With fifteen years having passed since that iconic victory for Pakistan, let us have a look at the playing XI of the victorious Pakistan team from the 2009 T20 World Cup final and where are they now:
#Openers: Kamran Akmal, Shahzaib Hasa
The former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal scored a breezy 37 off 28 balls in the final against Sri Lanka and laid the foundation for the run chase of 139. He struck a couple of fours and sixes each during his impressive knock.
Akmal last played professional cricket in the US Masters League T10 for the New York Warriors in August 2023. He is currently working as a cricket expert for the T20 World Cup in Pakistan.
Shahzaib Hasan scored 19 off 23 deliveries in the 2009 World Cup against Sri Lanka. Shahzaib played 3 ODIs and 10 T20Is for Pakistan between 2009-2010.
In February 2018, Hasan was banned for a year for his alleged involvement in the 2017 PSL spot fixing. A review appeal from him resulted in the ban being extended to four years.
#Batters and all-rounders: Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Fawad Alam
One of the finest players to have emerged from Pakistan, Shahid Afridi played an instrumental role in Pakistan's World Cup win. Afridi first played a pivotal role with the ball, finishing with figures of 1/20 in his four overs.
With the bat, he scored an unbeaten 54 off 40 deliveries to take Pakistan over the finish line. He served as the interim chief selector for Pakistan in 2022/23. He can be sporadically seen sharing his views on the game and playing legends cricket from time to time.
His last international match was for the World XI against West Indies in 2018. Shoaib Malik remained unbeaten on 24 off 22 deliveries in the final against Sri Lanka. Malik was part of the Pakistan T20 World Cup side in 2021 and played his last international match against Bangladesh in Mirpur in November 2021.
Malik currently works as an expert on different cricketing shows in Pakistan. Coming to Abdul Razzaq, he was one of the sought after white ball all-rounders during the 2000s. Razzaq was magnificent with the ball and did the maximum damage in restricting Sri Lanka to 138, finishing with figures of 3/20.
Razzaq also works as a panellist in different cricket shows in Pakistan and recently got himself into trouble after a derogatory comment on an Indian actress. Younis Khan led the Pakistan team to their only T20 World Cup title till date. One of the finest Pakistan batters, Younis Khan led the team admirably. He also served as the Pakistan batting coach in 2021.
A former Pakistan captain Misbah Ul Haq was also an integral part of Pakistan's victorious campaign in 2009. Having fallen agonizingly close to a World Cup win 2007, it was a moment of redemption for Misbah and team. He served as the Pakistan head coach from September 2019-2021. He is currently part of the PCB technical committee.
Fawad Alam didn't get a chance to make an impact in the final but the winning memento will surely make him proud even fifteen years after that historic day for Pakistan cricket.
Fawad made limited appearances for Pakistan and last played for the national team in a Test match against Sri Lanka in 2022. He is also an actor and played a lead role in a television show named Khudkash Muhabbat.
#Bowlers: Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Amir
Umar Gul was also an important member of the victorious Pakistan team in 2009 and took a solitary wicket in the final against Sri Lanka. Gul retired from all forms of cricket in 2020 and also served as a bowling coach for Pakistan for a three match series against Afghanistan in 2023. Gul also served as Afghanistan's bowling coach during the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Saeed Ajmal went wickless during the final in Lord's back in 2009 but had established himself as one of the go to bowlers for his captain. Ajmal was the bowling coach for Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup where Pakistan had a premature exit. He announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2017.
Last but not least in this line-up was none other than Mohammad Amir who remains the only player from that match to have played for Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Amir finished with figures of 1/30 in his four overs. His career came to a premature halt due to a spot-fixing scandal but later revived his career to play for Pakistan in the 2019 World Cup.
He announced his retirement from international cricket in December 2022 after a fallout with the then-Pakistan board but made himself available for the 2024 T20 World Cup. His immediate future with the national team remains uncertain after Pakistan’s woeful performance in the World Cup.