Not even a simple birthday wish.
The Pakistan Cricket Board’s silence on Imran Khan’s birthday is difficult to understand and even harder to defend. Whatever anyone’s political views may be, Imran Khan’s place in Pakistan’s cricket history should be beyond political considerations.
He was the captain who led Pakistan to its first and only ODI World Cup triumph in 1992. He was one of the greatest all-rounders the game has produced, a leader who transformed Pakistan into a formidable cricketing force, and an icon whose influence extends far beyond statistics.
A cricket board should be capable of separating cricketing legacy from contemporary politics.
For a while, there was hope that PCB might change—that it might become more professional, more respectful of Pakistan’s cricketing history, and less influenced by forces outside the game.
But apparently, some habits are very difficult to change.
A coal never takes a hue.
Ignoring one of the greatest figures in the country’s sporting history does not diminish Imran Khan’s legacy. It only diminishes the institution that chooses to ignore it.
Administrations come and go. Chairmen come and go. Political circumstances change.
History remains.
And when the history of Pakistan cricket is written, Imran Khan will always occupy one of its greatest chapters—whether PCB acknowledges his birthday or not.
PCB had an opportunity to show that cricket can stand above politics.
Instead, once again, PCB made itself look like a joke—and sadly, it seems determined to stay that way.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
