'Disappointed Cricket Fan': How Australia Vs Pakistan Match Gave Internet its Favourite Meme - News18 (2024)

Curated By: Anurag Verma

News18.com

Muhammad Sarim Akhtar aka Disappointed Pakistani meme snapped during Pakistan Vs Australia during 2019 World Cup.

Disappointed Pakistani Fan meme was conceived during Pakistan Vs Australia match in ICC World Cup 2019 in England. His name is Muhammad Sarim Akhtar.

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Little did Muhammad Sarim Akhtar from Pakistan know that a moment of genuine disappointment during a World Cup encounter between his country and Australia would turn him into a global phenomenon. Now, you can find Akhtar’s face plastered on meme pages that have nothing to do with cricket but that’s the beauty of this universally-embraced meme. It’s here and it’s forever.

Why are we talking about the meme now?

Well, the meme was conceived during a Australia Vs Pakistan World Cup game in 2019. The two nations are all geared up to meet each other again on Friday at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and it’d be only appropriate to bring back the iconic meme to mark the occassion.

Recap

If cricket isn’t your thing or you have distanced yourself from the Internet for the past four years, don’t fret. The iconic moment was captured on June 12, 2019. A couple of things happened on that day: Pakistan lost to Australia and the ‘disappointed cricket fan’ meme was born.

Pakistani men were sloppy on the field but it was Asif Ali’s unfortunate butterfingers that pushed him to the spotlight not once but twice during the aforementioned World Cup contest. The first drop by Ali came on the fourth delivery of the 13th over bowled by pacer Wahab Riaz, when skipper Aaron Finch was given life as he edged one to the 27-year-old cricketer guarding the slip cordon area. Finch, batting on 26, went on to score 82 (84).

The second drop, the one that you should take a note of, was a sitter at the fence. Ali had made a mess. This time, it was centurion David Warner, who decided to upper-cut Riaz. The ball landed in Ali’s pouch and slipped out – almost prophesying Pakistan’s loss against Australia. Warne added only three more to his 104 but the drop left Pakistani fans in disgust.

Also Read: Pakistani Fans Roasting Their Team After Another Loss to India in World Cup is Evergreen Meme

One man that collectively captured the essence of the moment was a fan stood right behind Ali.

His hands were on his hips and disappointment written all over his face. He became the face of Pakistan’s loss but it was just a beginning.

The aftermath

While some viral memes push unsuspecting folks into the depths of hell and beyond, Akhtar was one of the lucky ones whose life wasn’t ruined as a result of Internet fame.

The man from Karachi employed at PricewaterhouseCoopers in London embraced the meme and seemed to enjoy all the attention that came as a package.

The cricket fan revealed during an interaction with LadBible that he appreciated the creativity that was put forth to depict the disappointment in varied scenarios as he went through an out-of-body experience while turning into an internet celebrity.

In another interview with VICE, Akhtar revealed that once his name was leaked post match, he received thousands of friend requests overnight and his phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. The madness was such that he even received a request, from a complete stranger no less, that they wanted to use Akhtar’s “disappointed face” on their credit card. Reason? Akhtar’s genuine disgust depicted on their credit card would make them use it less.

Also Read: Pakistanis Troll India Over ‘Empty Stadium’ During ICC World Cup 2023 NZ Vs Eng Opener

Akhtar went so viral, that Coca-Cola got in touch with him for a promotional campaign, where he got to meet his cricket idol, Wasim Akram. But it was just the beginning.

The cricket fan’s iconic pose also found a permanent fixture in a vocabulary textbook with a distinct definition associated to his face.

Glared (verb): to stare angrily or reflect uncomfortably brilliant light.

The meme inducted in the Hong Kong Meme Museum.

So, has someone left you disappointed on this fine day? You know exactly what you have to do.

first published:October 20, 2023, 11:56 IST

last updated:October 20, 2023, 12:08 IST