The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has come under fire for omitting former cricket captain Imran Khan from a commemorative video honoring the nation’s 76 years of independence. The video showcases numerous cricketing stars who have represented the country on the international stage since 1952.
Making history isn't just about one day, it's about the legends we create and the tales we script 💫
🏆 Pakistan Cricket Team – a legacy that echoes through time 🌟#BeyondJustOneDay pic.twitter.com/grC0YVC5Xi
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 14, 2023
Surprisingly, Imran Khan, renowned for leading Pakistan to their sole ICC Men’s ODI World Cup triumph in 1992, is notably absent from the video.
This decision has sparked outrage among cricket enthusiasts across the nation. Imran Khan transitioned into politics following his retirement from cricket, founding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party. He subsequently assumed the role of Prime Minister in 2018 but was unseated from his position through a no-confidence motion initiated by the National Assembly last year.
PCB claims to be a big advocate of not mixing sports with politics and then doesn't bothers to include the only ICC WorldCup winning captain of Pakistan – The great Imran Khan in the special video of independence day. Such a hypocritical act by PCB!✋Shame! https://t.co/ma75BuIxBm
— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) August 14, 2023
Currently, the hashtag #ShameOnPCB is trending on the social media platform ‘X’ formerly known as Twitter. The cricket community and fans alike are expressing their disappointment on social media. Numerous supporters took to Twitter to condemn the omission of one of Pakistan’s most iconic cricketers from its cricket history video. Following are some of the reactions of cricket enthusiasts on Twitter:
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
PCB might not remember, but he was The greatest Captain of his Era and the greatest cricketer that Pakistan has ever produced #ShameOnPCB pic.twitter.com/5sE40pRisO
— Noor Fatima (@Noor_cosmos) August 15, 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
The decision to exclude Imran Khan from the video is believed to stem from a combination of factors, including recent court rulings and the current leadership within the cricket board. As social media continues to buzz with criticism, the PCB faces mounting pressure to address the controversy surrounding this omission.
