Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram (Urdu: وسیم اکرم; born 3 June 1966) is a former Pakistani first-class cricketer, cricket commentator and television personality. He is acknowledged as one of the greatest bowlers of all time.[1][2][3][4] A left-armfast bowler who could bowl with significant pace, he represented the Pakistan cricket team in Test cricket and One Day International(ODI) matches. In October 2013, Wasim Akram was the only Pakistani cricketer to be named in an all-time Test World XI to mark the 150th anniversary of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.[5][6][7][8]
Akram is regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of game. He holds the world record for most wickets in List A cricket, with 881, and he is second only to Sri Lankan off-spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharanin terms of ODI wickets, with 502 in total. He is considered to be one of the founders—and perhaps the finest exponent of—reverse swingbowling.[9][10][11]
He was the first bowler to reach the 500-wicket mark in ODI cricket during the 2003 World Cup. In 2002, Wisden released its only list of best players of all time. Wasim was ranked as the best bowler in ODI of all time, with a rating of 1223.5, ahead of Allan Donald,Imran Khan, Waqar Younis, Joel Garner, Glenn McGrath and Muralitharan.[12] Wasim has taken 23 four-wicket hauls in ODI in 356 matches he played.[9] On 30 September 2009, Akram was one of five new members inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.[13][14] He was the bowling coach ofKolkata Knight Riders.[15] However, he took a break from the position for IPL 6, citing a need to spend more time with family in Karachi,[16]and he took a further break from the upcoming IPL 2017; during this time, Akram will be replaced by Lakshmipathy Balaji.
He was working as director and bowling coach of Islamabad United in Pakistan Super League, until he left to join Multan Sultans in August 2017.[17]
Early and personal life
Wasim Akram was born on 3 June 1966 in a Muslim Punjabi Arain family inLahore.[18]"Wasim Akram"[permanent dead link].Cricinfo.</ref> He was educated atGovernment Islamia College Civil Lines Lahore, where he played as an opening bowler and batsman.[19] Akram's father, Chaudhary Muhammed Akram, was originally from a village near Amritsar in east Punjab, India, who moved to Kamonki, Punjab, Pakistan, after the partition of India in 1947.[20]
Like several other Pakistani cricketers during the 1980s, his inclusion into the national side was at the behest of a senior player in the team, which in Akram's case was Imran Khan.[21]
At the age of 30, Akram was diagnosed withdiabetes. "I remember what a shock it was because I was a healthy sportsman with no history of diabetes in my family, so I didn't expect it at all. It seemed strange that it happened to me when I was 30, but it was a very stressful time and doctors said that can trigger it."[22] Since then he has actively sought to be involved in various awareness campaigns for diabetes.[23]
Akram married Huma Mufti in 1995.[24] They had two sons from their marriage of 15 years: Tahmoor (born 1996) and Akbar (born 2000).[25] Huma died of multiple organ failureat Apollo Hospital in Chennai, India, on 25 October 2009.[26]
On 7 July 2013, it was reported that Akram had become engaged to an Australianwoman, Shaniera Thompson, whom he had met while on a visit to Melbourne in 2011 while participating in a Poker tournament at Crown Casino.[27] Akram married Shaniera on 12 August 2013, saying he has started a new life on a happy note. He was quoted as saying: "I married Shaniera in Lahore in a simple ceremony, and this is the start of a new life for me, my wife, and for my kids."
Domestic career
In 1988, Akram signed for Lancashire County Cricket Club in England. From 1988 to 1998, he opened their bowling attack in their ECB Trophy, Benson and Hedges Cup, andNational League tournaments. He was a favourite of the local British fans, who used to sing a song called "Wasim for England" at Lancashire's matches. In 1998, with Akram as captain, Lancashire won the ECB Trophy and Axa League and finished second in the championship tournament despite losing only five matches in all competitions throughout the season.[30]
International career
Test cricket
Akram made his Test cricket debut for Pakistan against New Zealand in 1985,[31] and in his second Test match, he claimed 10 wickets.[32] A few weeks prior to his selection into the Pakistan team, he was an unknown club cricketer who had failed to make it even to his college team. He came to the trials atGaddafi Stadium in Lahore in Pakistan, but for the first two days he did not get a chance to bowl. On the third day, he got a chance; his performance convincing Javed Miandad to insist upon his inclusion in the national team.[21] Akram was hence given an opportunity to play for Pakistan, without any significant domestic experience.
Akram's rise in international cricket was rapid during the late 1980s. He was a part of the Pakistan team that toured the West Indies in 1988. However, a groin injury impeded his career in the late 1980s. Following two surgeries, he re-emerged in the 1990s as a fast bowler who focused more on swing and accurate bowling.[33]
One Day International
Akram started his ODI career against New Zealand in Pakistan in 1984 under the captaincy of Zaheer Abbas.[34] He rose to prominence by taking five wickets in his 3rd ODI against Australia in the 1985 Benson & Hedges World Championship. His wickets included those of Kepler Wessels, Dean Jones, and captain Allan Border.[35]
Early days
In the 1984–85 Rothmans Four-Nations Cup and the 1985–86 Rothmans Sharjah Cup, Akram took five wickets with a run rate of less than 3.50. The 1985–1986 Austral-Asia Cupinvolved Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and was played inSharjah, UAE. Akram, with the help of Abdul Qadir, bowled out New Zealand's batting line-up for 64 in the second semi-final of the cup. Pakistan won that game with more than 27 overs to spare, obtaining one of the biggest wins in Pakistani history. In the final against India, he and Imran Khan shared five wickets. Akram's wickets included Dilip Vengsarkarand Ravi Shastri.
In the 1987 Cricket World Cup held for the 1st time in South Asia, Akram struggled on Pakistani pitches; he managed only 7 wickets throughout, with an average of over 40 runs per wicket across all 7 matches. Akram played West Indies, Sri Lanka and Englandtwice. All group matches were played in Pakistan.
In the 1988–89 Benson and Hedges World Series, Akram managed figures of 4 for 25 against Australia.[36]
Emergence
Akram took his hundredth wicket at Sharjahduring the 1989–1990 Champions Trophy, the 2nd Match against West Indies. His 100th wicket was that of Curtly Ambrose. In that match, he took a five-wicket haul for the second time in his career.[37] In the same match, Akram took his first hat-trick againstWest Indies. All three batsman were bowled out.[37][38][39] On 4 May 1990 in Sharjah, Akram took his second ODI hat-trick againstAustralia. All three batsmen were bowled this time as well.[38][40]
His best years in the late 1980s were from 1986–1989, during which time he took 100 wickets at 22.71 runs per wicket, and his economy rate was less than 3.9 runs per over, with a total of four 4-wicket hauls. His first two hauls against Sri Lanka and Bangladeshcame in Sri Lanka in 1986.[41]
Up until December 1991, Akram took 143 wickets in 107 matches, with an average of almost 24 and an economy rate of 3.84.[33]
World's best
Akram was a significant figure in the 1992 Cricket World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand when Pakistan won the tournament. In the final, against England, his innings of 33 runs off 19 balls pushed Pakistan to a score of 249 runs for 6 wickets. Akram then took the wicket of Ian Botham early on during the English batting innings; and, when brought back into the bowling attack later on, with the ball reverse swinging, he produced a spell of bowling which led to Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis being bowled in successive deliveries in one over. His performances earned him theMan of the Match award for the final.[45][46] In 1993, Akram took two consecutive 4-wicket hauls against Sri Lanka in Sharjah, in which 7 out of 8 wickets were either LBW or bowled.[47]
In the 1992–1993 Total International Series in South Africa (involving Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa), he took 5 wickets against South Africa and got his 200th wicket in his 143rd match.[48][49][50] Akram took 46 wickets in calendar year 1993, his best year ever in ODIs. His average was less than 19, with an economy rate of less than 3.8 runs per over. He took six 4-wicket hauls in 1993, the most by him in any year.[50] In the 1996 Cricket World Cup, Akram missed the quarterfinal match against India which Pakistan lost and went out of the World Cup. Wasim's great career was often tainted by controversy, not least in the Caribbean in April 1993, his maiden tour as Pakistan's captain. During the team's stop-over in Grenada, he was arrested along with three teammates—Waqar Younis,Aaqib Javed and Mushtaq Ahmed—and two female British tourists; he was charged with possession of marijuana.[51] Between 1994 and 1996, he took 84 wickets in 39 matches.[50]
From January 1992 to December 1997, Akram played 131 matches and took 198 wickets at an average of 21.86, with 14 4-wicket hauls in ODIs.
Late career
In 1999, he led Pakistan to the brink of victory in the World Cup before they capitulated and were defeated by Australia in the final by eight wickets with almost 30 overs to spare.[52] This was the start of the match-fixing controversies, as critics believed Akram had set up the match for Australia. However, none of the allegations could be proved.[53][54]
He was Pakistan's best bowler in the 2003 Cricket World Cup, taking 12 wickets in 6 matches.[55] However, Pakistan failed to reach the super six of the tournament, and Akram was one of the eight players to be sacked by the Pakistan Cricket Board as a result.[56][57]
Records
Akram won 17 Man-of-the-Match awards in 104 Tests. He took four hat-tricks in international cricket—two in ODIs[37][40] and two in Tests. As a result, he shares the record for most international hat-tricks with Lasith Malinga.[58][59] He finished with 22 Man-of-the-Match awards in ODIs. In 199 ODI match wins, he took 326 wickets at under 19 apiece with a run rate of 3.70 and took 18 four-wicket hauls.[33] His 257 not-out against Zimbabwe in 1996 is the highest innings by a number-8 batsman in Tests. He hit 12 sixes in that game, and it stands to this day as the record for the most sixes by any player in a single Test innings.[60][61]
Prior to his retirement, he was one of eight senior players dropped for the Sharjah Cup in April 2003, and was then omitted from the Pakistan squad for the subsequent Bank Alfalah Cup triangular series.[62] Due to his omission from the team, he did not participate in a farewell match. Akram fulfilled his contract play for Hampshire until the end of the English season.[63]
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