ISLAMABAD: The exclusion of cricketer-turned-Pakistan politician Imran Khan from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s tribute video has not only surprised but also shocked cricket legend Wasim Akram.
The former Pakistan captain took to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday to express his astonishment at Imran Khan’s absence from the PCB’s tribute video.
In his tweet, he said that he got the shock of his life when he watched PCB’s short clip on the history of Pakistan cricket minus the great Imran Khan.
Wasim Akram on Imran Khan’s Contributions
The former captain further went on to say that, setting aside political differences, Khan is an icon of world cricket, and his leadership developed Pakistan into a strong unit in his time and provided them with a pathway for future successes,” Pakistan legendry blower said.
Wasim Akram called on the Pakistan Cricket Board to take down the video and tender an apology to Imran Khan, who led Pakistan to their only 50-over World Cup victory in 1992.
After long flights and hours of transit before reaching Sri Lanka, I got the shock of my life when I watched PCB’s short clip on the history of Pakistan cricket minus the great Imran Khan… political differences apart but Imran Khan is an icon of world cricket and developed…
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) August 16, 2023
Posted on Pakistan’s 76th Independence Day, the video faced widespread criticism on social media, contrary to its intended purpose.
When questioned about Imran Khan’s absence, the PCB declined to comment on the matter.
Imran Khan, who is currently serving a three-year jail sentence in Attock, is considered one of the greatest cricket captains of all time.
Imran Khan, from the late ‘70s to 1992, played 88 Test matches for the country in which he took 362 wickets. In One Day Internationals, he played 175 matches and secured 182 wickets.
Beyond his personal accomplishments, Imran Khan is also credited for mentoring a generation of Pakistani cricket superstars, including Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Moin Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Late Abdul Qadir and many more.
After retiring from cricket in 1992, Imran Khan jumped into politics in 1996 and was elected as the country’s prime minister as a result of the 2018 general elections. Additionally, he assumed the role of the PCB’s patron-in-chief. However, he faced political challenges and was ousted from office in 2022. Subsequently, he encountered legal issues and landed in jail for three years in the Toshakhana case.
