Wasim Akram or Sylvester Stallone? Bizarre statue unveiling in Pakistan leads to online meme-fest

A life-size statue of Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram was recently unveiled at the historic Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad, Pakistan, intended as a tribute to the great fast bowler. However, what was meant to be a moment of pride quickly turned into a source of widespread amusement and mockery online, as the statue’s facial features bore little resemblance to Akram.

The sculpture tries to capture Akram in his trademark bowling action, dressed in Pakistan’s iconic 1992 World Cup uniform—a moment symbolic of his key role in the country’s historic victory. Yet instead of accurately reflecting the cricketer’s likeness, the statue drew unexpected comparisons to Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone, with many social media users joking that the artist may have confused the two. Memes and sarcastic comments flooded the internet shortly after images of the statue were released. Some of them are pictured below.

Akram’s contributions to cricket are monumental. Over a career spanning nearly two decades, he represented Pakistan in 104 Test matches and 256 One Day Internationals between 1984 and 2003. Known for his deadly swing and precision, he claimed 414 wickets in Tests and 502 in ODIs.