Shahid Afridi visits UN headquarters, praises Pakistan Mission’s diplomatic role

NEW YORK: Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi visited the United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday and appreciated Pakistan’s mission to the UN for what it described as its role in promoting dialogue and peaceful dispute resolution.

In a statement posted on X, the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations said Afridi had visited the UN headquarters at the invitation of Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad. The mission said the ambassador briefed him on its work, including Pakistan’s engagement at the UN on multilateralism, dialogue, diplomacy, and efforts related to international peace and security.

According to the mission, Afridi acknowledged the delegation’s work and appreciated its efforts to support understanding, dialogue, multilateral cooperation among states, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. The statement added that he was also given a tour of the UN headquarters and informed about the organisation’s work in international peace and security, sustainable development, and multilateral cooperation.

During a meeting at the UN headquarters, Ambassador Ahmad welcomed Afridi and praised his contribution to Pakistan cricket, saying he had brought joy to cricket supporters around the world through his performances. The ambassador also lauded Afridi’s humanitarian and welfare work. Referring to those efforts, Ambassador Ahmad said: "These projects have positively impacted the lives of many people, particularly in underserved communities."

The mission said the ambassador also highlighted sports as a means of diplomacy, describing it as a way to cross borders, encourage mutual understanding, and bring people and countries closer. It added that he said sport could help promote peace, goodwill, and international cooperation. The statement said the visit reflected a shared view that sport and diplomacy can help build connections between people and contribute to a more peaceful and cooperative international environment.

In a separate post on X, Afridi thanked Ambassador Ahmad and the Pakistan Mission for their hospitality and said the visit had included discussions on Pakistan’s place internationally and ways to strengthen the country’s positive role globally. In the same post, he wrote: "It was a pleasure to engage in meaningful discussions on Pakistan’s role on the global stage and the opportunities to strengthen our nation’s positive impact around the world. Proud to see Pakistan represented with such dedication and distinction."

Afridi represented Pakistan in all three formats of international cricket. He played 398 One-Day Internationals, 99 Twenty20 Internationals and 27 Test matches. Known by the nickname Boom Boom, he retired from international cricket in 2017 and has since remained involved in philanthropic work through the Shahid Afridi Foundation, a social welfare organisation he founded.