Cricket legend Wasim Akram has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to apologize and remove a video tribute that failed to properly acknowledge Imran Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 ODI World Cup. The video, released on Pakistan’s 77th Independence Day, received criticism on social media for its exclusion of Imran Khan.
As one of the most prominent cricketers to emerge under Imran’s leadership, Akram expressed his disappointment with the snub. Taking to his social media account, Akram revealed that he was shocked by the video’s lack of acknowledgment for Imran Khan. He emphasized the former captain’s significant contributions to Pakistani cricket, stating that Imran has become an icon worldwide and played a crucial role in developing the team.
Akram called on the PCB to delete the video and issue an apology. He highlighted that regardless of political differences, Imran Khan deserves recognition for his role in Pakistan’s cricket history.
Former fast bowler Wahab Riaz, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket, also addressed the issue during a press conference. Riaz stated that he was not restricted in expressing his opinion, emphasizing the importance of Imran Khan and the 1992 World Cup to the current and future generations of Pakistani cricketers.
After facing intense backlash for two days, the PCB finally deleted the video and uploaded a new version that included Imran Khan and credited him for the World Cup triumph. The PCB acknowledged that the previous version was incomplete and had been edited, leaving out important moments.
Imran Khan, after retiring from cricket in 1992, ventured into politics. In 2018, he became Pakistan’s prime minister and the PCB’s patron-in-chief. However, he was ousted from office in 2022 and has since faced legal troubles, including being found guilty of corrupt practices in the Toshakhana case. He was sentenced to three years in prison and disqualified from holding public office for five years. Imran Khan is currently serving his sentence at Attock Jail.