- Muhammad Sarim Akhtar, a cricket fan from Karachi, Pakistan went viral in 2019
- Now, he has spoken out about becoming a worldwide internet phenomenon
- It saw him signed up by Coca Cola in a brand collaboration deal
The man behind one of the most recognisable memes ever produced has revealed how he felt about going viral.
Muhammad Sarim Akhtar, a cricket fan from Karachi, Pakistan watched on in disgust when his countryman Asif Ali dropped a catch during a Cricket World Cup match against Australia in 2019.
He was then pictured with a look of utter bemusement as he stood motionless with his hands on his hips.
Akhtar subsequently went viral after his reaction was reproduced as a meme across the internet.
Now, he has spoken out about how the experience of becoming known across the globe has affected him.
His wife has also shared how she feels feels about her husband being contacted by swathes of people.
Muhammad Sarim Akhtar, a cricket fan from Karachi, Pakistan has shared how feels about going viral
The cricket lover went viral after his reaction was reproduced as a meme across the internet
Speaking to VICE, he said: ‘It was a pretty disappointing moment, but it’s not in my nature to shout abusive words or use expletives, so instead I made this expression,’ Akhtar told VICE over video call.
‘It was only when the match presenter came to interview me after the match was over that I realised I had gone viral.’
‘After my name was leaked, I got thousands of friend requests on Facebook and my phone was ringing through the night’.
The cricket fan has also decided to make the most of his worldwide fame by creating social media accounts featuring variations of the meme that gave him a platform for his popularity.
This has seen him generate over 30,000 followers on his Instagram account, where he often references posts from other outlets in the style of his pose.
He is also still an avid fan of the sport that catapulted him into the limelight, as he attended a T20 fixture between Middlesex and Glamorgan at Lord’s last year.
Akhtar added that the images have been used in countries that are far from being cricketing heavyweights.
It saw instances of it being used in reference to events such as protest movements in Italy and frequent flooding in his native Pakistan.
He has made the most of his virality by starting up social media accounts – with his Instagram page amassing over 30,000 followers
indeed, the image’s reach was so immense that it caught the attention of Coca-Cola, who subsequently signed Akhtar up for a promotional campaign last year that saw him meet his cricketing idol in Pakistan legend Wasim Akram.
However, the popularity of the meme has had some drawbacks when it comes to Akhtar’s personal life – leaving him often resorting to hiding his identity.
He added: ‘Especially in Pakistani and Indian communities, people recognise me instantly’.
‘Sometimes I wear a cap to cover my bald head, because that’s the easiest way to hide.’
His wife also finds the attention he garners as being ‘distracting’ to family life.
Akhtar’s children, aged nine and 13, have complained about their father constantly being recognised by other parents when he takes them to school.
