Source: https://propakistani.pk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/IK-4.jpg
KARACHI: If there is one thing Pakistanis will always have immense pride over, it is the fact that our cricket team won the World Cup back in 1992. From being the underdogs to hoisting the trophy, the driving force behind the memorable victory was none other than ousted (former) Prime Minister Imran Khan. But with the current political situation, it seems as though even the Pakistan Cricket Board would gladly omit the winning captain from their history. Naturally, cricket fans were not having any of it and many took to social media to call PCB out for not including Imran Khan in their new video.
On August 14, the PCB released a video in celebration of independence day which showed how far the country has come in the sport. From celebrating Javed Miandad’s infamous batting in the Asia Cup to the 1992 World Cup victory, the video also included more recent wins by both the men and women’s teams. However, what was missing from the video was Imran Khan.
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While the video shows the 1992 celebrations and despite the fact that Khan was the captain and the driving force behind the team, he is only shown in a brief frame and that too with his back towards the camera. The only clear shot we have of the winning captain is in the cover picture along with the other captains. It wasn’t long before fans also picked up on how PCB seemed to be following the political agenda against Imran Khan. And sports is the last place for politics. When the PCB was reached out in regards to the matter, they simply refused to comment. However, the nation had quite a bit to say.
Just watched the PCB’s video released on the 14th August again and again. There’s Bhutto & Benazir in the video but not Imran Khan. Just bloody imagine.
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) August 15, 2023
By ignoring Imran Khan’s contribution to Pak cricket, PCB has made itself a laughing stock https://t.co/mAkCFYEx4D
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 16, 2023
The company ordered PCB to delete Imran Khan from this video and Pakistan Cricket Board removed Imran Khan’s picture from this video. Shame on PCB
#غلام_نہیں_آزاد_پاکستان pic.twitter.com/ca4u8l65vG
— Asif Mehmood (@ASIFAMCT) August 14, 2023
Pettiness is having an entire segment on the 1992 WC win without showing a single picture of the man who led the team to glory.
Shameful by @TheRealPCB! https://t.co/keTBzXv1Jd
— Uzair Younus عُزیر یُونس (@UzairYounus) August 14, 2023
We will send Pakistani team to India as we keep politics separate from sports, where is your 1992 world cup champion ??? Lanti mufiqon
— NeelKhan (@Neelkhan0209) August 14, 2023
While most of the cricket fraternity was quiet about the matter, two voices were loud and clear.
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
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!
Imran Khan will go down in history as one of the greats of the global game!#PakistanCricket https://t.co/wKsvBgNZ3u
— Urooj Mumtaz Khan (@uroojmumtazkhan) August 14, 2023
It’s fair to say, the PCB didn’t achieve what they thought they would with their video!
