Why Did PCB Skip Birthday Wishes for Imran Khan? Fans Question Silence

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which frequently emphasizes keeping politics separate from cricket, came under public scrutiny on Saturday after it failed to extend birthday wishes to the country’s most iconic cricket captain and all-rounder, **Imran Khan**.

Cricket fans were quick to notice the omission and questioned whether it was **a deliberate or accidental decision**. Many speculated that the PCB may have chosen to ignore the former prime minister and 1992 World Cup-winning captain due to his **political affiliations**, while others wondered if it was simply an oversight.

Imran Khan, widely regarded as **Pakistan’s most successful cricket captain**, led the national team to its **first-ever World Cup victory in 1992** and remains one of the most celebrated figures in the country’s sporting history.

What further fueled the debate was the PCB’s social media post the same day, **wishing former all-rounder Aamir Hanif a happy birthday** — a player who represented Pakistan in just **five One Day Internationals**.

Imran Khan, who is currently **imprisoned at Adiala Jail** and facing multiple legal cases, served as **Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022**.

The incident has reignited discussions about whether the PCB’s claim of keeping **politics out of cricket** truly holds up, especially as **Chairman Mohsin Naqvi** has repeatedly stressed the importance of maintaining that separation — most recently during the Asia Cup.

Many fans argue that **ignoring Imran Khan**, one of the game’s greatest legends, contradicts the board’s own stated principles and undermines the apolitical spirit it claims to uphold.