Sitara-e-Imtiaz: Every Pakistani Cricketer Who Earned This Powerful National Honour
Pakistani cricketers who received the Sitara-e-Imtiaz represent the very finest that the country has ever produced on a cricket field. This prestigious civil award — Pakistan’s third-highest civilian honour — is not handed out lightly. Only those who have made an exceptional, measurable contribution to the nation’s pride and global standing are considered worthy of it.
To date, twelve Pakistani cricketers have been awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz. Their stories span four decades of cricketing history, from the spin wizardry of the 1970s to the modern batting brilliance of today. Here is the complete, verified list — with the year each honour was conferred.
What Is the Sitara-e-Imtiaz?
The Sitara-e-Imtiaz, which translates to “Star of Excellence” in Urdu, sits third in Pakistan’s Order of Imtiaz, below the Nishan-e-Imtiaz and Hilal-e-Imtiaz. The Government of Pakistan awards it to individuals who demonstrate outstanding achievement in fields including science, arts, literature, and sports.
For cricketers, receiving the Sitara-e-Imtiaz is a formal declaration by the state that their contribution to Pakistan has been extraordinary — beyond the boundary rope and into the fabric of national identity.
Complete List of Pakistani Cricketers Awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz
1. Javed Miandad — 1992
Javed Miandad is widely regarded as the most technically complete batsman Pakistan has ever produced. He was one of the first four cricketers to be bestowed the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, receiving it in 1992. His legendary last-ball six against India in the 1986 Austral-Asia Cup final remains one of the most electric moments in cricket history. Miandad represented Pakistan in six World Cups and scored over 8,000 Test runs across a career that spanned two decades. [ESPN Cricinfo]
2. Inzamam-ul-Haq — 2005
Inzamam-ul-Haq received the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2005. As one of the greatest batsmen of his generation, Inzamam was the anchor of Pakistan’s middle order for over a decade. His calm temperament under pressure and ability to accumulate runs in the most demanding conditions made him a national icon. He captained Pakistan in 87 ODIs and 31 Tests, leaving behind a legacy built on quiet excellence.
3. Mohammad Yousuf — 2011
Mohammad Yousuf was honoured with the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2011. In 2006, Yousuf set the world record for the most Test runs scored in a single calendar year — 1,788 runs, a record that still stands. A devout and dedicated batsman, he converted the majority of his half-centuries into hundreds, demonstrating a rare ability to build and deliver match-winning innings when Pakistan needed it most.
4. Saeed Ajmal — 2015
Saeed Ajmal received the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2015 for his remarkable contributions to Pakistan’s bowling. At his peak, Ajmal was ranked as the number-one ODI bowler in the world. His doosra and teesra deliveries confounded the best batsmen on the planet. He was the architect of Pakistan’s bowling dominance during the 2011–2013 period and played a central role in several historic series victories.
5. Misbah-ul-Haq — 2018
Misbah-ul-Haq was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz on Pakistan Day 2018. Under his measured and disciplined captaincy, Pakistan climbed to the number-one ranking in Test cricket in 2016 — the first time in the country’s history. Misbah’s leadership transformed a fragile Pakistan Test side into a world-beating unit, earning him recognition as one of the most consequential captains in Pakistan cricket history.
6. Younis Khan — 2018
Younis Khan was also awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz on Pakistan Day 2018. Pakistan’s all-time leading Test run-scorer, Younis accumulated 10,099 Test runs across 118 matches, including 34 centuries. He was known for his fighting spirit and consistency in the most challenging conditions. Younis led Pakistan to their maiden Twenty20 World Cup title in 2009, cementing his place as one of the all-time greats.
7. Shahid Afridi — 2018
Shahid Afridi received the Sitara-e-Imtiaz on Pakistan Day 2018. Few cricketers have captured the imagination of Pakistani fans the way Afridi did across a 20-year international career. As an explosive all-rounder, he held the record for the fastest ODI century for nearly two decades. Beyond his performances on the field, his philanthropic work through the Shahid Afridi Foundation — focusing on healthcare and education in underserved communities — added further weight to his national significance.
8. Sarfraz Ahmed — 2018
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, the third-highest civilian honour in Pakistan, by Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair. Under Sarfraz’s captaincy, Pakistan pulled off one of the greatest upsets in cricket history by winning the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, defeating India in the final. He was the youngest Pakistani cricketer to receive this honour at the time of his award.
9. Yasir Shah — 2019
Yasir Shah received the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2019. The leg-spinner revived the art of wrist-spin for Pakistan after the ban imposed on Saeed Ajmal. Yasir became the fastest Pakistani bowler to 200 Test wickets and, for a period, was the most feared leg-spinner in world Test cricket. His ability to turn the ball sharply on unhelpful surfaces made him a match-winner in every format he played.
10. Abdul Qadir — 2020 (Posthumous)
The late Abdul Qadir was conferred the Sitara-e-Imtiaz by President Arif Alvi on August 14, 2020, on Pakistan’s Independence Day. Qadir, who passed away in September 2019, is credited with reviving the art of leg-spin bowling globally during the 1970s and 1980s. During his career, he took 236 wickets in 67 Tests and 132 in 104 ODIs. Shane Warne — himself the greatest leg-spinner of the modern era — cited Qadir as a formative influence. The posthumous award was a long-overdue recognition of one of cricket’s true artists. [ESPN Cricinfo]
11. Babar Azam — 2023
Pakistan captain Babar Azam received the Sitara-e-Imtiaz at a ceremony in Lahore on Pakistan Day, becoming the youngest person ever to receive the honour. At just 28 years old, Babar broke Sarfraz Ahmed’s previous record. His career ODI average of 59.41 is the highest among any batter with at least 2,000 runs in the format, placing him among the elite across all eras of the game. Babar dedicated the award to his parents, his fans, and the people of Pakistan.
12. Sana Mir — 2025
Former Pakistan women’s cricket captain Sana Mir was presented the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in Peshawar by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi at a Pakistan Day ceremony in 2025. Sana Mir is a transformative figure in women’s cricket — she was the first Pakistani woman to top the ICC ODI Bowling Rankings, the first to play 100 ODIs for Pakistan, and the first female cricketer from the country to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. She retired in 2020 with 240 international wickets across white-ball formats and a legacy that extended well beyond statistics.
Why the Sitara-e-Imtiaz Matters in Cricket
Each of these cricketers carried Pakistan’s flag with distinction — not only in runs and wickets but in the way they inspired an entire nation. The Sitara-e-Imtiaz recognises that cricket in Pakistan is far more than a sport. It is a source of national unity, identity, and hope.
From Javed Miandad’s defiant sixes in the 1980s to Sana Mir breaking barriers for women’s cricket in the 21st century, the roll of honour tells a powerful story of a nation expressing its pride through the game it loves most.
As Pakistan cricket continues to produce world-class talent, the list of Sitara-e-Imtiaz recipients in cricket will only grow — and rightly so.