The Global Social Network
In 1992, a white tee with a tiger emblem became the uniform of resilience. Worn by Imran Khan during Pakistan’s near-miraculous Cricket World Cup campaign, the Imran Khan Cornered Tiger T-shirt transcended sport, morphing into a symbol of defiance and hope. Today, BenQTees—a brand rooted in Lahore—has revived this iconic garment, stitching together threads of history, politics, and collective memory. For Pakistanis worldwide, this isn’t just apparel; it’s a manifesto.
Pakistan’s World Cup journey was a tale of near-collapse and redemption. After winning just one of their first five matches, the team teetered on elimination. Enter Imran Khan, battling a shoulder injury and distracted by his cancer hospital project, yet summoning a speech that would ignite a revolution. In Perth, clad in the now-legendary tiger tee, he told his squad: “Fight like cornered tigers—nothing is more dangerous.” The rest? A fairytale: victories over Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and finally, England in the final.
The T-shirt became shorthand for Imran’s leadership—a blend of grit, poetry, and Pathan pride. As Aaqib Javed, a player from that squad, recalls: “After those 15 minutes [of Imran’s speech], life changed. I felt invincible”.
BenQTees’ reissued design isn’t a mere replica. It’s a reclamation. Priced at a very modest price, Crafted from heavyweight cotton, it mirrors the durability of Imran’s ethos. But the magic lies in its intent:
Unlike premium brands targeting diasporas, BenQTees’ tee is accessible to Pakistan’s youth—students, laborers, and cricket fans who see Imran not just as a cricketer but as a political insurgent.
Imran’s later crusade against corruption (“I will never let Pakistan become a banana republic”) echoes the tiger’s defiance. Wearing this shirt today isn’t just about 1992; it’s solidarity with his ongoing battle.
While details are sparse, BenQTees’ Lahore roots hint at local craftsmanship—a nod to Imran’s vision of self-reliant Pakistan.
Imran Khan’s life mirrors the tiger’s journey: cornered yet unbroken.
The tee bridges these eras. As one fan wrote on social media: “When I wear this, I’m not just celebrating a World Cup. I’m wearing resistance.”
The original’s prowling tiger—recreated by BenQTees—symbolizes urgency. No Urdu calligraphy (unlike Motherland’s design), keeping it raw, universal.
Heavyweight cotton, akin to the 190gsm fabric of BodylineTShirts’ version, ensures it survives rallies, matches, and monsoon protests.
From XS to 5XL, it embraces all—students, farmers, activists. A silent rebuke to elitism.
In a nation where corruption scandals outnumber power outages, the tiger tee is a protest uniform. For BenQTees, this isn’t commerce; it’s curation of memory. When a vendor in Lahore’s Anarkali Bazaar sells the shirt, he isn’t just handing over fabric—he’s passing on a story. “My father watched the ’92 final on a crackling radio,” shares Ali, a 22-year-old customer. “Now I wear this to PTI rallies. Imran’s still our captain.”
BenQTees’ Cornered Tiger T-shirt is more than merch. It’s a mosaic of:
As Imran once said: “I knew we would win the World Cup.” Today, his supporters wear that certainty on their sleeves—literally.
Available at BenQTees (Lahore) and indoclassified.com. Proceeds support local artisans.
“A tiger doesn’t lose sleep over the opinion of sheep.”—Imran Khan, 1992 and forever.
South Asia Investor Review
Investor Information Blog
Haq's Musings
Riaz Haq's Current Affairs Blog
Most countries in the world today borrow money from various sources to finance their budget deficits. So do India and Pakistan. So why is it that only Pakistan's borrowing money gets labeled "begging"? Is it not begging when India borrows a lot more money than does Pakistan? Or is it that only borrowing money from the IMF qualifies as "begging"? Let's look into this double standard. Currently, India's public debt to GDP ratio is 80% while Pakistan's is about 74%. India's private debt to GDP…
ContinuePosted by Riaz Haq on July 22, 2025 at 6:30pm — 3 Comments
Recent data shows that there are nearly 10,000 Pakistani students attending colleges and universities in Germany. This figure is second only to the United Kingdom which issued over 35,000 student visas to Pakistanis in 2024. The second most popular destination for Pakistani students is Australia which is hosting nearly 24,000 students from Pakistan as of 2023, according to the ICEF…
Continue
© 2025 Created by Riaz Haq.
Powered by
You need to be a member of PakAlumni Worldwide: The Global Social Network to add comments!
Join PakAlumni Worldwide: The Global Social Network