Wasim Akram's statue unveiled in Pakistan, internet wonders: ‘Why does he look so disappointed?'
A new statue honouring cricket icon Wasim Akram at Niaz Stadium has gone viral, but not for the right reasons. Its unflattering resemblance has left fans amused and confused, sparking widespread discussion on social media.
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A life-sized statue of cricket veteran Wasim Akram was recently unveiled at Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad, Pakistan. Meant to honour one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricketing history, the statue has instead gone viral on social media for its unflattering look, leaving fans both amused and confused.The statue shows Akram wearing Pakistan's 1999 World Cup jersey, frozen mid-action in his famous bowling style. While the body shape and pose look quite accurate, the face has drawn criticism. Fans say the facial features look odd, with a strange expression that resembles a frown. His hairstyle also makes him appear older than he actually was at the time.One X (formerly Twitter) user joked, 'Does Wasim Akram know that it's him?', while another said the statue looks like it's made with '10% cement, 90% disappointment.'This situation reminds many of the time Sachin Tendulkar's statue was revealed at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. Back then, fans thought the statue looked more like Australian cricketer Steve Smith.Wasim Akram had an amazing cricket career from 1984 to 2003, playing 104 Test matches and 356 One Day Internationals (ODIs). He took 414 Test wickets and became the first bowler to take 500 wickets in ODIs, ending with 502. He also scored more than 6,000 runs in international cricket, with a top Test score of 257 not out.He was part of Pakistan's 1992 World Cup-winning team and played in four World Cups overall. Akram also led the team as captain in 25 Tests and 109 ODIs.After retiring, Akram stayed close to cricket. He has worked as a coach, including in the IPL, and with the Pakistan national team for a short time. Now, he is a popular cricket commentator and appears on sports broadcasts around the world.While the statue aimed to celebrate a legend, fans hope future tributes do justice to the greatness of Wasim Akram.
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