A life-sized statue of legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has sparked ridicule after being unveiled at Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad.
The statue, which shows Akram in his 1999 World Cup kit mid-delivery stride, was installed in April but only went viral this week after photos were shared widely on social media.
While the tribute aimed to honour one of Pakistan’s greatest cricketers, many fans quickly pointed out its lack of resemblance.
Some joked that the statue looked more like Sylvester Stallone than Akram, while others mocked, ‘Made with 10% cement, 90% disappointment.’
Another quipped, ‘Does Wasim Akram know that it’s him?’
Despite the criticism, Akram, who took 414 Test and 502 ODI wickets, defended the artist’s efforts.
The statue of Wasim Akram at Niaz Stadium in Pakistan got the body bang on, but the face is way off
Akram, pictured during a celebrity match in Australia, was known as one of the most elegant bowlers of all time, even after he retired from international cricket
The more you zoom in on the statue of Akram, the worse it gets, resulting on hordes of online criticism
‘Lots of talk about my sculpture being erected at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad. Mine is definitely better than the tiger,’ he posted to X, referring to another statue of a tiger nearby that had ridiculous facial features.
‘It’s the idea that matters. Credit to the creators, full marks for the effort and thanks to everyone involved.’
The statue attempts to capture Akram’s iconic bowling action from the 1999 World Cup, a tournament where Pakistan reached the semi-finals.
While the body structure and stance were commended, the face and expression drew the most attention, with fans noting a frown and ageing features.
Niaz Stadium chief Shiraz Leghari defended the artist’s work, stating, ‘He did his best effort, but accepts it doesn’t resemble [Akram] a hundred percent.’
Statues of cricket greats outside stadiums are common worldwide. India recently unveiled a statue of Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai, which also received backlash from fans who claimed it looked more like Steve Smith.
It is not the first time a statue has missed the mark and it won’t be the last. Here are some of the more humourous sporting tributes from around the world.
Sachin Tendulkar, cricket
You know what, the punters are right, this does look more like Steve Smith than Sachin Tendulkar
The Little Master’s statue at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium was mocked for not only not resembling the cricket icon, but for looking like an Australian champion.
Many fans said it looked more like Australian batsman Steve Smith than Tendulkar himself.
Social media users criticised the facial features and expression, calling them awkward and inaccurate.
Some fans joked that even Tendulkar might not recognise himself in the sculpture.
Despite the intention to honour a legend, the statue quickly became the subject of memes and online ridicule.
Virat Kohli
This highly intense wax statue of Virat Kohli has been on display at Lord’s, in London, Dubai, Singapore and a range of other venues
Kohli’s statue was unveiled in June 2018 At Madame Tussauds in London, to honour his sparkling cricket career. Now while Virat is known as an intense chap, this homage took it to all new levels. It got worse for the former Indian captain when a second wax statue was commissioned, this time in Jaipur, India. While the first one has Terminator vibes, the second one was just plain creepy. The proportions were all wrong with over-sized arms while the wax used was very obvious, giving it a greasy and sleasy look.
The Mirpur Bowler, cricket
This anatomically incorrect monstrosity in Bangladesh was erected for the World Cup in 2011 but was never demolished like it probably should have been
Installed ahead of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, this statue depicts a bowler mid-delivery with an anatomically incorrect action: delivering the ball with the right foot forward while using the right hand – a physically impossible posture in cricket. The sculpture has been criticised for defying both cricketing and scientific logic.
Andy Murray, tennis
Andy Murray’s face says it all at the unveiling of the Terracotta Warrior Andy Murray statue
In 2011, a terracotta warrior statue of tennis player Andy Murray was unveiled at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. Intended to honour his victory, the statue was slammed for its lack of resemblance to Murray, with even the host at the unveiling noting it looked more like 17th-century physicist Isaac Newton.
Mohamed Salah, football
Egyptian star Mohamed Salah was known for this celebration pose throughout his playing days
They got the goal celebration pose right with this memorial to Salah, but not much else
Unveiled at the World Youth Forum in 2018, this statue of footballer Mohamed Salah was meant to depict his trademark goal celebration. However, it faced backlash for its disproportionate features, including a large head and small arms, leading to widespread ridicule and comparisons to other infamous statue fails.
Cristiano Ronaldo, football
The quality control team must have been out for lunch when this bust of Cristiano Ronaldo got the green tick of approval
The likeness was so bad, the bust had to be re-done so as not to offend the Portugal great
A bust of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo unveiled at Madeira Airport in 2017 was widely mocked and it is easy to tell why. This bust was not only inaccurate, it was borderline offensive. The criticism led to the creation of a new bust to replace the original.
Dwayne Wade, basketball
This one is truly bizarre. Unveiled in October 2024, the 8-foot bronze statue of basketball player Dwyane Wade was intended to honour his legacy with the Miami Heat. However, fans quickly picked up on the fact that it looked like an old man in a Heat jersey. Wade was having none of it, defending the likeness and saying it was an artistic expression.
Harry Caray, baseball
Baseball fans don’t know whether this statue was designed to honour Harry Caray or to let you know the famous baseball caller was now haunting you
Even though Caray died back in 1998, his statue stands at Wrigley Field despite the criticism over the lost souls approach to its design
The statue of legendary Chicago Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray has been described as bizarre, featuring ghost-like faces at the bottom meant to represent the club’s loyal fan base. Critics have noted that Caray appears to be emerging from a thick bog of tortured souls, making the statue unsettling.
Brandi Chastain, football
Credit has to go to Brandi for smiling bravely beside a plaque with somebody else’s mug on it
The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame plaque intended to honor soccer legend Brandi Chastain in 2018 became infamous due to its lack of resemblance to her. The bronze depiction was widely mocked online, with comparisons to various male celebrities, including Mickey Rooney, Gary Busey, and even fictional characters like Biff from Back to the Future. Chastain herself commented on the plaque, saying, ‘It’s not the most flattering, but it’s nice’.
David Beckham, football
David Beckham puts on a diplomatic face as a statue that is supposed to resemble him is unveiled
A statue of footballer David Beckham unveiled in Los Angeles faced criticism for its exaggerated features and lack of likeness. The statue was mocked for its disproportionate facial features, leading to widespread ridicule on social media.
Wayne Gretzky, ice hockey
This amateur effort has been widely panned for not recognising the legacy of the great Wayne Gretzky
He may be one of Canada’s biggest names of all time, but poor old Wayne has struggled for recognition, including being given this jersey with his name spelled wrong
The statue of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky in Edmonton has been described as lacking detail and not doing justice to the athlete’s legacy. Critics have pointed out that the statue fails to capture Gretzky’s likeness, making it a disappointing tribute to one of hockey’s greatest players.
