The individual who essentially secured our sole World Cup victory appears to have been left out of all the celebratory images and videos?
Cricket enthusiasts and experts criticize PCB’s effort to exclude World Cup-winning captain Khan from a video commemorating the country’s cricket history.
Pakistani cricket fans have criticized the omission of former captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan from a social media video celebrating the national team’s achievements. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared the video on the country’s 76th independence day, showcasing cricket success since 1947. Imran Khan’s absence, especially considering his historic role in winning the 1992 Cricket World Cup, sparked backlash from fans and experts, emphasizing the strong bond between cricket and national pride in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has faced significant criticism for excluding cricketing icon Imran Khan from its historical video on the sport.
Imran Khan, now aged 70, is a former cricket sensation who attained national hero status by leading Pakistan to a triumphant Cricket World Cup victory in 1992.
Having transitioned into politics, he assumed the role of Pakistan’s Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022.
Presently, the cricket luminary turned politician finds himself incarcerated due to corruption charges. Imran Khan’s involvement in the Toshakhana case led to a court conviction, resulting in a three-year prison sentence. Moreover, the election commission subsequently barred him from pursuing any office for a five-year period.
Making history isn't just about one day, it's about the legends we create and the tales we script 💫
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 14, 2023
🏆 Pakistan Cricket Team – a legacy that echoes through time 🌟#BeyondJustOneDay pic.twitter.com/grC0YVC5Xi
Here are a few of these responses:
Reminiscing in Pakistan crickets history, 11 images of the 1992 World Cup win and not one pic or mention of the greatest that ever played the game for the country!
— Urooj Mumtaz Khan (@uroojmumtazkhan) August 14, 2023
Imran Khan will go down in history as one of the greats of the global game!#PakistanCricket https://t.co/wKsvBgNZ3u
Me: Lol, no way you can make a video celebrating Pak cricket without the greatest Pak cricketer ever.
— Osman Samiuddin (@OsmanSamiuddin) August 14, 2023
Siri: Yeah no way.
PCB: Hold my Pakola. https://t.co/vo8L3iYn9i
So 10 Clear pictures of 1992 World Cup win & all without the Captain 👏👏👏👏 https://t.co/NKdQbUa54S
— Abdul Ghaffar 🇵🇰 (@GhaffarDawnNews) August 14, 2023
THE GREATEST THERE IS
— فیضان (@faizanriaz7_) August 14, 2023
THE GREATEST THERE WAS
THE GREATEST THERE EVER WILL BE! https://t.co/WcWBxnItKx pic.twitter.com/tgPjXNfzPL
Stalinist. Imran Khan airbrushed from the history of Pakistan cricket. https://t.co/HtCaJPwLnM
— Peter Oborne (@OborneTweets) August 14, 2023
Women’s team has bigger share than just showing a frame of them in celebrating history.
— Noorena Shams (@noorenashams) August 15, 2023
Sana Mir’s world number 1 rank & women’s Asian gold medal cant be just skipped.
What is more ironic is to see Imran Khan shown for split seconds. A captain that brought first world cup… https://t.co/uRfIjq4M2K
It's "Imran Khan" "Imran Khan" everywhere, esp when you don't show the legend here. Thank you PCB!
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) August 15, 2023
Khan had a distinguished cricket career, participating in 88 Test matches and 175 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for Pakistan.
His impressive batting average of 37 and bowling average of 22 placed him among a group of renowned all-rounders of his time, including Ian Botham, Richard Hadlee, and Kapil Dev, who left an indelible mark on Test cricket during the 1980s.
In the latter phase of his international cricket journey, spanning a decade, Imran Khan featured in 51 Test matches, boasting an exceptional batting average of 50 and a commendable bowling average of 19.
One of his remarkable achievements as a cricketer was leading Pakistan to their inaugural series victory in England in 1987. However, the pinnacle of his career was reached when he captained the Men in Green to victory in the 1992 World Cup, a defining moment that still shines as a testament to his inspiring leadership.
Presently, the cricketer-turned-politician faces legal repercussions. He is incarcerated due to corruption charges related to the Toshakhana case, resulting in a three-year prison sentence. Furthermore, the election commission has imposed a five-year disqualification on him from participating in any future political office.
