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Akram and his battles with India
New Delhi, May 19: The man who terrorised batsmen for a living will be seen on the international stage no more.
New Delhi, May 19: The man who terrorised batsmen for a living will be seen on the international stage no more.
Wasim Akram will be missed by teammates, opponents and fans. No less by the Indians who were at the receiving end of his fury many a time.
"Akram is the best fast bowler I have ever played against in the world. His deceptive bouncers were very lethal and because of that Akram found success so often," former India captain Krisnamachari Srikkanth said.
"Akram will be remembered for ever as one of the all time greats," said Srikkanth who led the last Indian team to visit Pakistan, way back in 1989. Akram's retirement, announced midway through a county match in England, might have been low key without much hoopla but at least, Akram realised early enough that he no more had a chance of returning to the Pakistan team and bid a quiet adieu.
More than 400 wickets in both forms of the game is a rare double that would withstand the test of time. If his 1,032 first-class wickets at 21.65 including 70 five-wicket and 16 ten-wicket hauls are staggering, the two hat-tricks in both Tests and one-day internationals complete the picture of an all-time great.
“He was the best paceman and none of the top batsmen in the world ever felt comfortable while facing Akram," former player and selection committee chairman Chandu Borde said echoing the thoughts of most of the Indians. Of course, what set Akram apart from his contemporaries was that he did not need to resort to any kind of sledging to earn his wickets. There had hardly been a moment in his entire career when Akram spat verbal volleys in the manner of the likes of Glenn McGrath after beating a batsman.
Former India all-rounder Robin Singh vouches for Akram's approach to the game. "He is a gentleman cricketer and he will be missed," said Singh.
"He is the most complete bowler in the world. My personal observation of Akram is that he is the best fast bowler in the world. He is a fast bowler with rare natural abilities and he has proved quite often that he can take wickets at will," Singh said. For all his exploits all over the world, Akram enjoyed bowling against India, claiming 45 wickets from 12 Tests and 60 from 48 one-day internationals.
"A series against India always rises our spirit. We in Pakistan say 'whenever you want to get back into form, have a match against India'," the bowler himself has said often, and that may explain the levels to which he raised his game when playing against the subcontinent rivals.
Bureau Report
"Akram is the best fast bowler I have ever played against in the world. His deceptive bouncers were very lethal and because of that Akram found success so often," former India captain Krisnamachari Srikkanth said.
"Akram will be remembered for ever as one of the all time greats," said Srikkanth who led the last Indian team to visit Pakistan, way back in 1989. Akram's retirement, announced midway through a county match in England, might have been low key without much hoopla but at least, Akram realised early enough that he no more had a chance of returning to the Pakistan team and bid a quiet adieu.
More than 400 wickets in both forms of the game is a rare double that would withstand the test of time. If his 1,032 first-class wickets at 21.65 including 70 five-wicket and 16 ten-wicket hauls are staggering, the two hat-tricks in both Tests and one-day internationals complete the picture of an all-time great.
“He was the best paceman and none of the top batsmen in the world ever felt comfortable while facing Akram," former player and selection committee chairman Chandu Borde said echoing the thoughts of most of the Indians. Of course, what set Akram apart from his contemporaries was that he did not need to resort to any kind of sledging to earn his wickets. There had hardly been a moment in his entire career when Akram spat verbal volleys in the manner of the likes of Glenn McGrath after beating a batsman.
Former India all-rounder Robin Singh vouches for Akram's approach to the game. "He is a gentleman cricketer and he will be missed," said Singh.
"He is the most complete bowler in the world. My personal observation of Akram is that he is the best fast bowler in the world. He is a fast bowler with rare natural abilities and he has proved quite often that he can take wickets at will," Singh said. For all his exploits all over the world, Akram enjoyed bowling against India, claiming 45 wickets from 12 Tests and 60 from 48 one-day internationals.
"A series against India always rises our spirit. We in Pakistan say 'whenever you want to get back into form, have a match against India'," the bowler himself has said often, and that may explain the levels to which he raised his game when playing against the subcontinent rivals.
Bureau Report