Following intense criticism for excluding Imran Khan from a promotional video celebrating Pakistan’s cricket legacy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued an updated edition on Thursday, referring to it as the “original version.” PCB clarified that the initial video had left out “significant clips due to time constraints.”
The promotional campaign for the upcoming Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2023 by PCB had initially unveiled a video on August 14, 2023. However, due to the video’s length, crucial moments featuring Imran Khan, the renowned captain of the 1992 World Cup-winning team, were inadvertently omitted. PCB acknowledged this and released a complete version of the video to rectify the situation, stating, “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
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The public reaction was swift and strong, as fans condemned the video for allegedly aligning with the political agenda of the ruling coalition. Prominent figures like former captain Wasim Akram, who had played under Khan’s leadership, demanded the immediate removal of the video and an official apology.
Wasim Akram tweeted:
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
Responding to the backlash, PCB corrected the error by releasing the full video on August 16, 2023. The updated version prominently featured four segments highlighting Imran Khan’s contributions, including his triumphant holding of the coveted trophy and pivotal performance in the final match. Additionally, the revised footage showcased other significant cricketing moments, such as Misbah-ul-Haq’s Test mace victory, the women’s team success at the Asian Games, and Nida Dar’s achievement of taking 100 wickets.
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