LAHORE: Pakistan’s 2009 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup triumph completed 17 years, marking one of the most memorable moments in the country’s cricket history.
Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets at Lord’s on June 21, 2009, to win their first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title under the captaincy of Younis Khan.
The victory remains special for Pakistan cricket as the national side had reached the final just two years after losing the inaugural T20 World Cup final in 2007.
Umar Gul was Pakistan’s most successful bowler in the 2009 tournament, taking 13 wickets in seven matches and playing a key role in the team’s success.
Shahid Afridi also delivered a standout all-round performance, scoring 176 runs and taking 11 wickets during the tournament. He also scored two half-centuries, including crucial knocks in the knockout stage.
Recalling the historic campaign, Umar Gul said the team had decided before the 2009 World Cup that it would not repeat the mistakes made in the 2007 final. He said the team’s confidence grew with each win, creating belief that Pakistan could go all the way and lift the title.
Gul also recalled his five-wicket haul against New Zealand, saying Shahid Afridi’s brilliant catch in that match proved to be a turning point.
He said Pakistani fans celebrated passionately outside the ground after the final, and the team took nearly two hours to leave due to the excitement and crowd of supporters.
Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq said winning the 2009 T20 World Cup was a special moment because the pain of the 2007 final defeat was still fresh. He said the victory over New Zealand boosted the team’s confidence, while Afridi’s form and the bowlers’ strong performances were major reasons behind the title win.
Cricketer Sajid Khan also shared his memories, saying he was playing under-13 cricket in Peshawar in 2009 and did not have a television at home. He said he learned about Pakistan’s win the next morning through his brother’s mobile phone and felt great joy seeing Pakistan win a major ICC event.
Imam-ul-Haq said many memories of the 2009 T20 World Cup remain fresh in his mind. Despite exams, he followed all of Pakistan’s matches, adding that the semi-final and final were unforgettable.
He said Shahid Afridi’s match-winning innings, Kamran Akmal’s aggressive batting and Umar Gul’s yorkers remain memorable from the tournament.
Imam added that Younis Khan’s captaincy, Mohammad Amir’s spells and Saeed Ajmal’s bowling were outstanding. He said he watched the final with his mathematics teacher but could not celebrate much as he was balancing studies and cricket at the time.
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