Cricketers apologise to Pakistani boxer for lousy reception on victorious return

Waseem knocked out Tanamor in 82 seconds in Dubai at the Rotunda Rumble on Friday night

Former pacer Wasim Akram has apologised to Pakistani boxer Muhammad Waseem for not receiving a grand reception at the airport on his return from United Arab Emirates after his win against Conrado Tanamor.

“I apologise on behalf of Pakistan. Sometimes we as a country need to be ‘smacked on the face’ with the fist of reality to wake us up and remind us how we should be treating our heroes.” Akram tweeted.

He congratulated Waseem on his win over Conrado Tanamor and said that he would receive Waseem himself from the airport next time.

I apologise on the behalf of Pakistan, Sometimes we as a country need to be “smacked on the face” with the fist of reality to wake us up and remind us how we should be treating our hero’s. I’m picking you up from the airport next time myself! Massive congratulations on the win! https://t.co/i7K1S4l2jx

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) September 15, 2019

The former World Boxing Council (WBC) silver champion knocked out Tanamor in 82 seconds in Dubai at the Rotunda Rumble on Friday night. Waseem has braved 10 bouts now and only lost one, while this was his seventh win through knock-out.



The boxer dedicated his victory to the Kashmiris facing atrocities brutalities at the hands of the Indian occupation forces.

A disheartened Waseem had earlier tweeted that he was not fighting for ‘istaqbals’ at the airport and stressed that he was fighting so that Pakistan could get world acclaim.

“I’m not fighting to get istaqbals at the airport,” Waseem tweeted. “Every fight, every camp, every training, every tour, is another opportunity for me to show the boxing world the world-class boxing talent Pakistan has.”

Im not fighting to get istaqbals at the airport. Im fighting so that Pakistan gets good Istaqbal all over the world. Every fight, every camp, every training, every tour, is another opportunity for me to show the boxing world the world class boxing talent Pakistan has 🇵🇰🥊 https://t.co/JQY3EI2xu7

— Falcon Waseem (@iamfalconwaseem) September 15, 2019

Pakistan’s all-rounder Shoaib Malik also asked Waseem to not let this trouble him and stay focused on his goals.

“We are so proud of you, had I been in Pakistan I would have come to the airport,” Malik tweeted.

just stay focused on your goals bro, everything else will follow inshAllah. We are so proud of you, had I been in Pakistan I would have come to the airport. Next time iA

— Shoaib Malik 🇵🇰 (@realshoaibmalik) September 15, 2019