 Akram in 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Wasim Akram | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1966-06-03)3 June 1966 (age 59) Lahore,West Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Sultan of Swing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)[1][2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Left-armfast | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 102) | 25 January 1985 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 8 May 2002 v Bangladesh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 53) | 23 November 1984 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 4 March 2003 v Zimbabwe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI shirt no. | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984–1986 | Pakistan Automobiles Corporation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985–1987, 1997–1998, 2000–2001 | Lahore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–1998 | Lancashire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–2003 | PIA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Hampshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Source:CricInfo,4 April 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wasim AkramHI (Punjabi,Urdu:وَسیم اکرم; born 3 June 1966) is a Pakistanicricket commentator,coach, and formercricketer andcaptain of thePakistan national cricket team. Akram is regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time. He is often revered asThe Sultan of Swing.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]In October 2013, Wasim Akram was the only Pakistani cricketer to be named in anall-time Test World XI to mark the 150th anniversary ofWisden Cricketers' Almanack.[10][11][12][13] As captain, he led Pakistan to the finals of the1999 Cricket World Cup, where they lost to Australia by 8 wickets. He was a part of the Pakistani squad which won the1992 Cricket World Cup.
A left-armfast bowler who could bowl with significant pace, he holds the world record for most wickets inList A cricket, with 881, and is second only to Sri Lankanoff-spin bowlerMuttiah Muralitharan in terms ofODI wickets, with 502 in total. He is considered to be one of the founders, and perhaps the finest exponent of,reverse swing bowling.[14][15][16]
He was the first bowler to reach the 500-wicket mark in ODI cricket, and he did so during the2003 World Cup. In 2002, Wisden released its only list of the best players of all time. Wasim was ranked as the best bowler in ODI of all time, with a rating of 1223.5, ahead ofAllan Donald,Imran Khan,Waqar Younis,Joel Garner,Glenn McGrath andMuralitharan.[17] Wasim took 23 four-wicket hauls in 356 ODI matches played.[14] On 30 September 2009, Akram was one of five new members inducted into theICC Cricket Hall of Fame.[18][19] He was the bowling coach of theKolkata Knight Riders.[20] However, he took a break from the position forIPL 6, citing a need to spend more time with family in Karachi,[21] and he took a further break fromIPL 2017; he was replaced by Lakshmipathy Balaji.
He was working as director and bowling coach ofIslamabad United inPakistan Super League until he left to joinMultan Sultans in August 2017.[22] In October 2018, he was named in thePakistan Cricket Board's seven-member advisory cricket committee.[23] In November 2018, he joined PSL franchiseeKarachi Kings as President.[24]
The Government of Pakistan awarded him theHilal-e-Imtiaz on 23 March 2019 for his lifetime achievements in the field of cricket.[25]
Wasim Akram was born on 3 June 1966 to aPunjabi family inLahore.[26] Akram's father, Chaudhary Muhammad Akram Arain, was originally from a village nearAmritsar and the family moved toPakistani Punjab after thepartition of India in 1947.[27][28] Their ancestral village is called Chawinda Devi and the family belongs to theArain community.[29]
His father's first job was as a court proofreader and he also operated an automotive spare parts business while for some time he ran a single-screen cinema, theNiagara, located in theFerozepur Road, because of which Akram would develop an early love forHindi cinema.[30]
His mother's name is Begum Akram, and he has three siblings: two elder brothers Naeem Akram and Nadeem Akram and a younger sister, Sofia Akram.
He completed his early education in Lahore fromGovernment Islamia College, Civil Lines, Lahore.[31][32]
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."[33] Since then he has sought to be involved in various awareness campaigns for diabetes.[34]
Akram married Huma Mufti in 1995.[35] They had two sons from their marriage of 14 years: Tahmoor and Akbar.[36] Huma died ofmultiple organ failure atApollo Hospital inChennai,India, on 25 October 2009.[37]
For some years he was linked by the Indian media to former Miss Universe turned actressSushmita Sen.[38]
On 7 July 2013, it was reported that Akram had become engaged to anAustralian woman,Shaniera Thompson, whom he had met while on a visit toMelbourne in 2011.[39] 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."
He moved fromLahore toKarachi with his wife and children.[40] On 3 September 2014, the coupletweeted that they were expecting their first baby—the third child of Akram.[41] On 27 December 2014, Shaniera gave birth to a baby girl, Aiyla Sabeen Rose Akram, in Melbourne.[citation needed]
Akram started his career as a tape ball cricketer.[32] He later joined Ludhiana Gymkhana with the help of his friend, Khalid Mahmood.[32] His first class cricket debut was for BCCP Patron's Eleven against New Zealand cricket team.[32]
In 1988, Akram signed forLancashire County Cricket Club in England. From 1988 to 1998, he opened their bowling attack in theirNatWest Trophy,Benson and Hedges Cup, andSunday 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 NatWest Trophy and Sunday League and finished second in theCounty Championship, having lost only five matches in all competitions during the season.[42]
Akram made hisTest cricket debut forPakistan againstNew Zealand in 1985,[43] and in his second Test match, he claimed 10 wickets.[44] A few weeks prior to his selection in 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 convincingJaved Miandad to insist upon his inclusion in the national team.[45] Akram was hence given an opportunity to play for Pakistan, without any significant domestic experience.
Akram's rise ininternational 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.[46]
Wasim Akram is currently the highest wicket taker for Pakistan in test cricket with 414 wickets.[47]
Akram started his ODI career against New Zealand in Pakistan in 1984 under the captaincy ofZaheer Abbas.[48] 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 ofKepler Wessels,Dean Jones, and captainAllan Border. Wasim Akram is currently the highest wicket taker for Pakistan in One Day International cricket[49]
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 1985–1986Austral-Asia Cup involvedAustralia,India,New Zealand, Pakistan andSri Lanka, and was played inSharjah,UAE. Akram, with the help ofAbdul 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 andImran Khan shared five wickets. Akram's wickets includedDilip Vengsarkar andRavi Shastri.[citation needed]
In the1987 Cricket World Cup held for the 1st time inSouth 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 playedWest Indies, Sri Lanka andEngland twice. All group matches were played in Pakistan.[citation needed]
In the1988–89 Benson and Hedges World Series, Akram managed figures of 4 for 25 against Australia.[50]
Akram took his hundredth wicket atSharjah during the 1989–1990 Champions Trophy, the 2nd Match against West Indies. His 100th wicket was that ofCurtly Ambrose. In that match, he took a five-wicket haul for the second time in his career.[51] In the same match, Akram took his first hat-trick againstWest Indies. All three batsman were bowled out.[51][52][53] On 4 May 1990 in Sharjah, Akram took his second ODI hat-trick againstAustralia. All three batsmen were bowled this time as well.[52][54]
His best years in the late 1980s were from 1986 to 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 againstSri Lanka andBangladesh came in Sri Lanka in 1986.[55]
Up until December 1991, Akram took 143 wickets in 107 matches, with an average of almost 24 and an economy rate of 3.84.[46]
| Wasim Akram's results in international matches[56] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | Won | Lost | Drawn | Tied | No result | |
| Test[57] | 104 | 41 | 27 | 36 | 0 | – |
| ODI[58] | 356 | 199 | 145 | – | 6 | 6 |
Akram was a significant figure in the1992 Cricket World Cup held inAustralia andNew Zealand when Pakistan won the tournament. In the final, againstEngland, his innings of 33 runs off 19 balls pushed Pakistan to a score of 249 runs for 6 wickets. Akram then took the wicket ofIan 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 toAllan Lamb andChris Lewis being bowled in successive deliveries in one over. His performances earned him theMan of the Match award for the final.[59][60] 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.[61]
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.[62][63][64] 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.[64] In the1996 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 andMushtaq Ahmed—and two female British tourists; he was charged with possession of marijuana.[65] Between 1994 and 1996, he took 84 wickets in 39 matches.[64]
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. In September 1998, he first announced his retirement from international cricket and hired a retired judge to help him fight match-fixing allegations levelled against him. Akram called the allegations "a conspiracy, especially within the board". He added, "Unfortunately I have to leave cricket. When allegations arise you need to fight it out. You can't just sit back.... I would love to carry on but I simply can't. But I'm happy because I know that I have done nothing wrong."[66] However, he reconsidered his decision on the insistence of chairman of thePakistan Cricket Board (PCB),Khalid Mahmood.[67]
In 1999, he led Pakistan to the finals of the World Cup where they capitulated and were defeated by Australia in the final by eight wickets with almost 30 overs to spare.[68] 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 proven.[69][70]
He was Pakistan's best bowler in the2003 Cricket World Cup, taking 12 wickets in 6 matches.[71] However, Pakistan failed to reach the super six of the tournament, and Akram was one of the eight players to be sacked by the PCB as a result.[72][73]
Akram won 17 Man-of-the-Match awards in 104 Tests. He took four hat-tricks in international cricket—two in ODIs[51][54] and two in Tests. As a result, he shares the record for most international hat-tricks withLasith Malinga.[74][75] 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.[46] 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.[76][77]
Prior to his retirement, he was one of eight senior players dropped for the2003 Sharjah Cup, and was then omitted from the Pakistan squad for the subsequent Bank Alfalah Cup triangular series.[78] 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.[79]
Since retiring from cricket, Akram has worked and taken up commentary for television networks and can currently be seen as a sports commentator forESPN Star Sports andARY Digital among others. He did commentary on a variety of sporting tournaments including the 2009Women's Cricket World Cup in Australia, the2009 ICC World Twenty20 in England, the2009 ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa, and the2011 ICC World Cup inIndia,Sri Lanka andBangladesh.[citation needed]
In 2010, Akram was appointed the bowling coach consultant ofKolkata Knight Riders, theIndian Premier League team forKolkata.Sourav Ganguly was always keen to have Akram as the bowling coach for India, during the former's stint as Indian captain. Although this never happened, his dreams were realised to some extent, when Akram was appointed as the bowling coach cum mentor for the franchise.[80]Akram has thus been playing a vital role in the grooming of Indian pacers likeMohammed Shami andUmesh Yadav, who owe their success in international cricket a lot to the bowling legend.While working for the Kolkata Knight Riders, he was also responsible for the signing of Pakistani domestic left-arm fast-bowlerMohammad Irfan.[81]Akram has also been coaching in Pakistan fast bowling camps, his most notable discovery being the teenage Pakistani bowlersMohammad Amir andJunaid Khan.Akram has also worked as director and bowling coach of PSL franchiseIslamabad United during2016 and2017 season.[82] He has also worked withMultan Sultans as director and bowling coach. He is currently chairman and bowling coach ofKarachi Kings.[82] He is also currently the Vice President ofKashmir Premier League.[83][84][85]
Over my 15 or 16 years of playing international cricket in Tests and One Day Internationals, Wasim Akram is definitely the most outstanding bowler I've ever faced.
During his professional career he bowled with genuine speed and hostility. Akram was a man possessed of accurate control of line and length, accompanied byseam andswing bowling skills, extended to bothinswingers andoutswingers. With a very quick bowling action, he could bowl equally well from both sides of the wicket. His mastery ofreverse swing with the cricket ball meant he was at his most dangerous towards the end of a bowling innings, and earned him the nickname of one of the "Sultans of Swing", the other one beingWaqar Younis.
"The one player who really stood out for me was Wasim Akram. It was in thattournament that we realised just what a special talent he was and how much trouble he was going to give us and the rest of the world in the years to come. What a player he was."
As well as often being able to find the edge of the bat, Akram would also focus his bowling attack on thestumps and had a particularly lethal inswingingyorker. Of his 414 Test wickets, 193 were takencaught, 119 were takenleg before wicket and 102 werebowled.[88][89][90] In partnership withWaqar Younis, he intimidated international batsmen in the 1990s. Together Wasim and Waqar, known as "the two Ws" of the Pakistani team, were one of the most successful bowling partnerships in cricket.[91]
With the bat he was especially effective against spin bowlers. However, he liked to slog and was criticised for his lack of high scores and giving away his wicket too cheaply. In October 1996 he scored 257 runs not out, of the team's total of 553 against lowlyZimbabwe on a typical flatSouth Asian pitch atSheikhupura. He also achieved good scores for the Pakistan team such as his scores of 123 and 45* against Australia to take Pakistan to victory in a low scoring match. His batting was also valuable sometimes to the Pakistan ODI side, such as in theNehru Cup in 1989, when needing six runs in two balls to win the match, he hit the first delivery he faced, from part-time off-spinner and batting legend,Viv Richards, for a six and secured the cup.
West Indian batting greatViv Richards rates Akram as best fast bowler he ever faced afterDennis Lillee.[92][93]
In December 2012 afterRicky Ponting announced his retirement, he said that Wasim Akram andCurtly Ambrose were the toughest bowlers he had faced[94] "Akram for the exact opposite, you could get a few runs off him, but you just knew there was an unplayable ball around the corner, be it with an old ball or with a new ball," –Ricky Ponting.[95]
To mark 150 years of the Cricketers' Almanack, Wisden named him in an all-time Test World XI.[96]
Akram was a model at the Pantene Bridal Couture Week 2011, which was an event ofStyle 360.[98][99]
In 2018, Akram joinedCricingif as a stakeholder director.[100]
| Year | Show | Role | Language | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena | Judge[101] | Hindi | India |
| 2016 | The Sportsman Show | Host | Urdu | Pakistan |
| 2017 | Geo Khelo Pakistan | |||
| 2022 | Jeeto Pakistan League | Guest |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Money Back Guarantee | Akram | Film debut[102] |
Akram was awardedWisden Cricketer of the Year in 1993 for his sporting achievements. He was awardedLux Style Award for Most Stylish Sports Person in 2003.
In 1992, after he had been successful against the English batsmen, accusations ofball tampering began to appear in the English media, though no video evidence of foul play was ever found. Akram and Younis had been able to obtain prodigious amounts of movement from both new and old cricket balls. The skill of thereverse swing delivery was relatively unknown in England and around the cricketing world during that period.
A far larger controversy was created when critics alleged that he was involved in match fixing. An inquiry commission was set up by the Pakistan Cricket Board headed by a Pakistan high court judge,Malik Mohammad Qayyum. The judge wrote in his report that:[119]
This commission feels that all is not well here and that Wasim Akram is not above board. He has not co-operated with this Commission. It is only by giving Wasim Akram the benefit of the doubt afterAta-ur-Rehman changed his testimony in suspicious circumstances that he has not been found guilty of match-fixing. He cannot be said to be above suspicion.
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion with: information about the book. You can help byadding to it. Relevant discussion may be found on thetalk page.(January 2023) |
Akram's autobiography, titledSultan: A Memoir, co-authored by cricket writerGideon Haigh, was published in 2022 byHarperCollins.[120][121]
[…] Wasim Akram hasn't done too badly. Playing in his 354th one-day international at Paarl on Tuesday, the legendary six foot three inches tall left-arm quick […]
On Tuesday, 3 May 2005, cricket legend and arguably one of the greatest left-arm fast bowlers of all times, Pakistan's Wasim Akram and his father Chaudhary Muhammad Akram Arain, visited their ancestral village Chawinda Devi, Amritsar district. Chawinda Devi was a mixed village with Arain and Syed biradaris of Muslims and Sikh and Hindus constituting an equal population. Wasim's family belonged to the Arain section of Chawinda Devi.
My father's first job was as a court proofreader. For many years he ran an automotive spare parts business (...) perhaps the only exotic thing about him was that for a time he ran a single-screen cinema, the Niagara, in Ferozpur Road.
| Sporting positions | ||
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| Preceded by | Pakistan Cricket Captain 1999–2000 | Succeeded by |
| Awards and achievements | ||
| Preceded by | Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World 1992 | Succeeded by |
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