KARACHI – Former Pakistan cricket captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has finally addressed the controversy surrounding his recently unveiled statue at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad.
Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Akram posted a humorous response by sharing a photo of his statue alongside a statue of a cheetah, writing, “My statue is definitely better than this cheetah.”
Acknowledging the ongoing public debate, Akram commented, “There’s been a lot of talk about the statue installed at Niaz Stadium. In my opinion, it’s the idea that holds more importance.”
He further praised the effort behind the statue, stating, “The artist who created it deserves credit. Full marks to everyone involved in the process.”
Lots of talk about my sculpture being erected at Naiz stadium Hyderabad “Mine is definitely better than the tiger”, btw it’s the idea that matters credit to the creators & full marks for the effort and thanks to everyone involved… pic.twitter.com/Eb6aOmpWH5
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) June 12, 2025
The statue, which depicts Akram mid-bowling action while wearing Pakistan’s 1999 ICC World Cup jersey, was meant to honor his contributions to cricket.
However, after its unveiling, it quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons, sparking criticism from fans and social media users who pointed out that the statue bore little resemblance to the cricket icon.
Many fans remarked that the statue’s face looked more like a Hollywood action figure than Wasim Akram, drawing both mockery and concern over how sports legends are commemorated in Pakistan.
The fans have appreciated Wasim Akram’s graceful and humorous response as well as his humility and positive attitude.
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