'Shame On PCB': Why're Fans Angry; What's Imran Khan's Role In It?

image-llc1sfe8Imran Khan lifted by teammates after 1992 World Cup win (Twitter)

Pakistan, one of the world’s major cricketing nations, celebrated its 76th year of freedom on August 14. To commemorate the occasion from cricket’s perspective, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released a near two-and-a-half-minute long video on their social media accounts, chronicling the country’s 71-year journey in the sport.

The video begins with a footage from 1952, from a time when Pakistan acquired its official Test status from the ICC. Moreover, it also features imagery of country’s most celebrated moments, including team’s 1992 World Cup and 2009 T20 World Cup wins.


PCB’s tribute video chronicles Pakistan’s cricketing journey

The cinematic experience was boosted by the presence of a number of Pakistani cricketing legends like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Shahid Afridi and current captain Babar Azam. Sarfaraz Ahmed’s iconic celebration with his troops while lifting the 2017 Champions Trophy also made it to the tribute. However, former captain Imran Khan was one notable absentee from the video.

It is to be noted that Khan is currently fighting a legal battle, as the cricketer-turned-politician was recently sentenced to three years of jail time. The former prime minister has also been barred from practising Pakistan politics for five years, after he was tried on charges of unlawfully selling state gifts during his political reign.

Regardless of the controversies, fans have been irked by PCB’s move of ignoring Khan from their tribute video. A legion of Pakistani supporters and media personalities took to Twitter to express their disapproval of the board’s decision.

While some called the move unjust, others publicly ridiculed PCB for mixing the sport with politics. Here is a look at some of the fans tearing through the cricket board:





Imran Khan, widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders of all time, made his international debut in 1971. The all-round maverick played 88 Tests and 175 ODIs for his country before calling it quits in 1992.

Notably, he led the ‘Men in Green’ to victory at the 1992 World Cup in Australia, which continues to remain their only triumph at the celebrated quadrennial event.