LAHORE Aug 17 (Online): Following backlash over the exclusion of Imran Khan from a video paying homage to country\u2019s cricketing legends, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released a \u201ccomplete version\u201d which prominently features the cricketer-turned-politician under whose leadership the country won its sole ODI World Cup in 1992.<\/p>\n
The original tribute video, posted on the country\u2019s 77th Independence Day (Monday), was widely criticised on social media and earned the PCB a ton of flak.<\/p>\n
Wasim Akram, arguably the greatest among an entire generation of cricketers who blossomed under the tutelage of Imran, had also expressed his displeasure over the snub.<\/p>\n
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Wasim had stated that he got the \u201cshock of his life\u201d after watching the video \u201cminus the great Imran Khan\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cPolitical 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,\u201d he said. \u201cPCB should delete the video and apologise,\u201d he said.
\nSeparately, former fast bowler Wahab Riaz had also addressed a question about Imran\u2019s omission from the video during a press conference announcing his retirement.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to note that we grew up watching the likes of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Our cricketing aspirations were moulded by looking up to them,\u201d Wahab said.
\nHe went on to emphasise, \u201cWe cannot overlook the significance of the 1992 World Cup and its captain. His status as a cricketer will endure. We idealised him and I believe the young generation will also hold him as an ideal figure.\u201d<\/p>\n
After facing two days of intense backlash, the PCB finally deleted the video and uploaded a newer version that included Imran and credited him for the World Cup triumph.
\nIn a post on social media platform X late on Wednesday night, the PCB said that it had launched a promotional video campaign leading up to Cricket World Cup 2023.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne 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,\u201d the board said.
\nHowever, many were still not happy with the PCB\u2019s \u201ccomplete version\u201d, with some saying that now Wasim had been excluded.<\/p>\n
Journalist Ihtishamul Haq said that PCB had posted a second video which included footage of Imran but now excluded Wasim. \u201cWhat could be the reason? Wasim Akram spoke for (Imran)? Or something else?\u201d he wondered.
\nAnother X user, Farid Khan, said that Wasim had disappeared now that Imran was added. He wondered if Wasim\u2019s criticism of the PCB had come back to bite him.<\/p>\n
He also shared pictures which he said featured Wasim in the deleted video but were not included in the new version.
\n\u201cPCB software updated,\u201d quipped Journalist Wajahat Kazmi.<\/p>\n
Danyal Rasool, a sub-editor for ESPNCricinfo, said, \u201cAfter bizarrely going to war with their own fans with a universally panned Independence Day video, the PCB have finally backed down, releasing a new promo that does feature Imran Khan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Journalist Arfa Feroze Zake noted that it had taken the PCB a couple of days to \u201cunderstand that Pakistan cricket can never ever be complete\u201d without the \u201cgreatest captain\u201d.
\n\u201cPCB has learnt a lifetime lesson that \u2018people\u2019s choice\u2019 can never be ignored!!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The managing editor of Aaj Tak Sports, Vikrant Gupta, said: \u201cYes, PCB now remembers Imran Khan as someone who played for and won Pakistan the World Cup under his leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE Aug 17 (Online): Following backlash over the exclusion of Imran Khan from a video paying homage to country\u2019s cricketing legends, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released a \u201ccomplete version\u201d which prominently features the cricketer-turned-politician under whose leadership the country won its sole ODI […]<\/p>\n
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