Wasim Akram Slams PCB For Excluding Imran Khan From Tribute Video, Gets Himself Excluded Before PCB Rectifies Mistake

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently faced severe backlash on X (formerly Twitter) for not showing Imran Khan in a video they posted on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day. The PCB posted the video to pay tribute to Pakistan’s cricketing legends but decided to exclude Khan from it.

Khan is widely considered the most influential figure in Pakistan cricket and is also one of the greatest cricketers in the country. He was the captain when Pakistan won their first and only World Cup till date in 1992 against all the odds. Unsurprisingly, the PCB faced heavy criticism after not showing Khan in the video.

Not only the fans, but several former Pakistan players also decided to lash out at PCB for mixing sports with politics. Khan served as Pakistan’s Prime Minister and was recently slapped with a three-year prison sentence on corruption charges. Legendary fast-bowler Wasim Akram was one of the leading voices who expressed their disappointment against PCB for their action.

Wasim Akram took to X to express his disappointment, writing: “Political differences apart but Imran Khan is an icon of world cricket and developed Pakistan into a strong unit in his time and gave us a pathway. PCB should delete the video and apologise.”

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

PCB reacts after Wasim Akram’s post:

After facing heavy criticism from the fans as well as former cricketers including Wasim Akram, the PCB decided to react. They decided to post another video but added a twist to it. While the PCB decided to include Khan in the video, Akram was surprisingly missing from it.

PCB posted another video now which includes the footage of Imran Khan in their promotional video, but Wasim Akram is not there now. What could be the reason? Wasim Akram spoke for Khan? Or something else?

— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) August 16, 2023

Surprisingly, the PCB claimed that some clips were missing from the first video because of its length. However, Akram who featured in the first video did not feature in the second. Akram was one of Pakistan’s best performers in the 1992 World Cup and retired from the game as one of the greatest pacers of all time.

Posting the second video, the PCB wrote: “One of the videos was uploaded on August 14. Due to its length, the video was abridged and some important clips were missing. This has been rectified in the complete version of the video.”

The PCB has launched a promotional campaign leading up to the CWC 2023. One of the videos was uploaded on 14th August 2023. Due to its length, the video was abridged and some important clips were missing. This has been rectified in the complete version of the video ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Rz2OBDyI9i

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 16, 2023

Imran Khan add huwa hay toh ab Wasim Akram ghayab hogya hay video se. Aaj ki tweet/post bhaari toh nai par gayi kahin unko ?

These four pictures featuring Wasim bhai were part of PCB's deleted video, but none of them is in the new video anymore. Strange! @wasimakramlive pic.twitter.com/UEci7lsFRZ

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) August 16, 2023

After Pakistan fans pointed out that Akram was missing in the second video, the PCB released another clip on Thursday (August 17) that showed the former pacer.

From the pitch to glory, let's recap Pakistan's journey across the 1️⃣2️⃣ ICC World Cup editions ?

We stand strong together ?#WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/cCWW8zZRw9

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 17, 2023