Ahmad Shahzad
A Pakistani opening batsman of dazzling flair whose career burned brightly with record-breaking centuries before fading from the international stage.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Pakistani cricketer·Birthday: November 23·Millennials
Biography
Ahmed Shehzad burst onto the cricket scene as a teenager touted as the next big thing for Pakistan. With a confident, aggressive style at the top of the order, he seemed destined for a long reign. He delivered on that promise in flashes of brilliance, becoming the first Pakistani to score a T20I century and notching a Test ton against Sri Lanka. His career, however, became a rollercoaster of form, fitness, and controversy, struggling to find the consistency required at the highest level. Despite the unfulfilled potential, his peak moments—a crisp cover drive, a audacious scoop—captured the explosive talent Pakistan hoped would anchor their batting for a decade, making his eventual departure from the national side a story of what might have been.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ahmad was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ahmad Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Ahmad's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first Pakistani batsman to score a century in a T20 International match (111* vs Bangladesh in 2014).
- Scored a Test century (147) on debut against Sri Lanka in 2013.
- Was part of the Pakistan team that won the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 tournament.
- Scored over 2,500 runs in ODI cricket for Pakistan, including six centuries.
Did You Know?
He was a member of the Pakistan U-19 team that won the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2006.
He has played for numerous franchises in T20 leagues around the world, including the Caribbean Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League.
He has been involved in several on-field disciplinary incidents throughout his career.
He is known for his distinctive, often dyed, hairstyles.
“An opener's job is to face the new ball and set the tone.”
