Shahid Afridi’s ‘all-round excellence’ against South Africa makes it on ICC’s list of ‘iconic’ T20 World Cup performances

Cricket’s governing body on Friday released a list of “iconic performances” at the T20 World Cup, with Shahid Afridi’s 2009 performance in the tournament’s semi-final against South Africa included among the feats.

“Between India winning both the inaugural ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007 and the most recent offering two years ago, there have been many iconic performances that have left their mark on T20’s biggest stage,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in its press release.

On Afridi, the ICC noted that after being named the player of the tournament in 2007, he had come back “with the bit firmly between his teeth”.

“In the semi-finals against South Africa, Afridi came to the fore in devastating fashion, starring with a crucial all-round performance that took Pakistan into a second successive final,” the ICC said.

It added that Afridi scored 51 off 34 with the bat, before claiming the key wickets of Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers, finishing with 2-16.

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan had won the tournament that year.

Meanwhile, it said that India’s Yuvraj Singh “etched his name into cricketing history” by smashing six sixes off just one Stuart Broad over at the tournament’s first edition in South Africa.

According to the ICC, the left-handed all-rounder became just the fourth player — after Garry Sobers, Ravi Shastri and Herschelle Gibbs — to complete the feat, and the first to do so in T20 cricket.

“Yuvraj’s exploits not only ensured an imposing India total but also took the then 25-year-old to a 12-ball half-century and a record fastest 50 in T20Is, one which would hold firm until 2023,” it said.

It said that in the 2010 tournament, played in West Indies, Australia’s Michael Hussey “played one of the greatest short-form innings of all time by blasting an unbeaten 60 from just 24 balls”.

Coming in at seven in the semi-final, and with Australia requiring 87 from 45 balls to beat Pakistan, “Hussey reinvigorated his side’s chase with a startling display of hitting,” the ICC said.

When his team needed 18 runs in the final over, Hussey smashed Saeed Ajmal for three sixes and a four to win the game, it added.

West Indian spinner Sunil Narine also made the list, with the ICC highlighting his spell which led West Indies to their first ICC T20 World Cup crown in 2012.

“The mystery spinner walked away with figures of 3-9 as Sri Lanka were left stunned in their pursuit of 138 for victory.”

Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath registered his name in the list for his “superb five wickets for just three runs helped Sri Lanka to the all-important victory” in 2014.

The ICC said that having been bowled out for 119 by New Zealand in the first innings, Herath “proceeded to rip through the Black Caps’ batting order, taking crucial wickets throughout the innings while also aiding two run-outs”.

New Zealand were dismissed for just 60 runs, as Sri Lanka lifted their maiden title.

Further, West Indian Carlos Brathwaite’s four consecutive sixes in the 2016 final also made the list, with the ICC calling it the “stuff of legend”.

“Needing 19 runs from the last over, West Indies were seemingly heading towards defeat at the hands of England,” the ICC said.

However, Brathwaite stepped up to deposit Ben Stokes’ first four balls into the stands and ensure the trophy was heading back to the Caribbean, the ICC said.

Australian Mitchell Marsh’s 2021 performance in the final also made the list, with the player scoring an unbeaten 77 as his team chased down their 173-run target set by New Zealand.

ICC said that alongside David Warner, Marsh helped steady the ship after Aaron Finch’s early dismissal before “demonstrating his power-hitting abilities”.

Marsh duly earned the Player of the Match award as Australia won by eight wickets, it said.

Calling 2022 the “redemption” of England’s Ben Stokes, the ICC said England’s second World Cup win not only saw them become the first country to hold both white-ball world champion titles at the same time, but also allowed Stokes to “banish the ghosts of 2016”.

Lastly, the ICC also included India’s Virat Kohli, saying: “Like Stokes in 2022, another behemoth of the modern game combined composure with guile to steal the show in the 2024 final, as Virat Kohli anchored India’s innings with a sumptuous 76.”

It said that as his team fell to 34-3, Kohli went on to earn player of the match award by “steering India towards a highly-competitive 176-7”.

South Africa fell seven runs short while chasing.