Wasim Akram: A Tribute

Wasim Akram was the kinda bowler who could bowl 6 different deliveries if he wanted to... His most memorable performance in my opinion was when he got Alan Lamb and Chris Lewis out in two deliveries... in the World Cup Final 1992.


I think Imran Khan rose up as the greatest because he was the most disciplined, focused and a man of unflinching integrity. Wasim Akram was the most naturally talented.


By the way.... Bangladesh and Pakistan are close to a nailbiting finish... thanks to a wonderful innings of 127 not out by Inzimam, or otherwise the Bangladeshis would have posted their first test win easy. People all over Pakistan and Bangladesh are glued into their TV Sets right now.

Wasim Akram was truly one of the greats of this century.

Most cricketers have determination and discipline. A few of these also have talent. But a cricketing mind, is something that only the eclectic, gifted ones possess.

Only those who possess these 4 ingredients can survive in international cricket for more than 13-15 years. Wasim is truly capable of playing for 20-22 years even.

As an avid cricket fan, I have my own list of Wasim`s best performances:

Wasim`s Top Five Performances

1. Twin-dismissals of Alan Lamb and Chris Lewis in World Cup `92 Final

2. Unbeaten knock to win Lord`s Test against England during 1992 Tour

3. Hatrick against Australia in Australasia Cup Final at Sharjah (1990)

4. Reverse-swing partnership with Waqar during England Test Series 1992 in which both shared 41 wickets betwen them

5. 10-wicket haul against New Zealand in his maiden tour (1984)

As a fan, I am also disappointed that he got involved in match-fixing. As captain, he could have been the perfect replacement for Imran Khan.

Pakistan won the match by 1 wicket... Inzi played the best innings of his life.

Phew! Glad we beat the Bangladeshi brothers--it would have been embarassing if we had lost! Inzi zindabad!

***

One thing I forgot to mention in my tribute to Wasim is that he played throughout his career whilst suffering from diabetes and had to take 2 insulin injections daily--this makes his performance even more incredible! I think that some sports academy or stadium should be named after him in Pakistan to honour this most gifted of cricketers.

...wasim is DA man...such amazing prowess from such a short run-up...could hit the best bowlers for 6`s on his day...and all this with diabetes...

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As headlined in a British paper-
``The Left Hand of God``.

Nice tribute to ``Sultan of Reverse Swing``.

Wasim Akram Zindabad.

As headlined in a British paper - ``The Left Hand of God``.

Shahid,

... that would amount to blasphemy ... punishable by death ... by the right hand of god.


On a differnt note ... it`s refreshing to see Naqsh Sahib praising a person ... who does not necessarily belong to the same Ahle-Sunnah Ala Hazrat Wallahu Sufian-e-karam W` ahle-ba`it jamaat-e-pir-o-murshad group.

There is hope, after all.

shahid:

http://www.cricket.org/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2003/MAY/183535_CI_19MAY2003.html

``His great mentor and discoverer, the great Imran Khan, said: ``

Are you sure that Imran discovered him. I thought it was Javed. I could be wrong but that is what I read in Javed`s biography. I would like to make sure that I am right about this so if you can set the record straight, it would be great, otherwise correct me if I am wrong. Akram definitely was a champion. I will always remember the one burst he shared with Waqar and that was an indication that plenty will come in the future.

This was during the tour of NewZealand with Javed leading the team in 1993. Imran had ofcoarse retired by then. NewZealand were chasing a mere 127 for victory in the second inning. They stood at 93 for 3. I remember watching this in a restaurant in Chicago. Everyone assumed that Pakistan will lose and had started with their expert analysis on our defeat. I got up to go out to my car to get something or the other. Did some other stuff that I don`t remember. Came back in about a half hour after to see everyone in jubilation mode as NewZealand were routed from 93-3 to 113 All out. Pakistan had won the test by 13 runs. I got a tape of that game the morning after and I must tell you, if any of you ever want to see how ``never say die`` is actually done, watch this game. These two Ws were breathing fire and with a handful of runs to get it was the Newzealanders who were nervous wrecks. Wasim, Waqar, Javed, Imran, Jahangir, Jansher, have given us many such moments; Moments when we could afford the luxury of forgetting all our problems and feel the pure rush of watching the simplicity of the moment instead of the complexity of the method claiming the spirit of the sport truimphant, be it on a field or a court. The game of cricket is going to go on but there will always be a moment easily recogniseable when people in the future will step on the field and umpire will call out:``Lets Play;`` And that moment perhaps will be when he will look over his right shoulder for once instead of the usual left to see a kid starting from 15 steps behind him and call out without thinking,``The usual, Mr. Akram``

my favourite akram moment obviously has to be against india (sorry indians). 1998-99 series, madras, first test second innings, indians chasing around 270 to win, tendulkar at the n.s. end, akram bowls to dravid, pitches the ball on good length middle-and-off, gets it to straighten and traps dravid right in front. umpire stays unmoved (b**stard). akram swears at the umpire, glares at dravid, goes back to his mark and bowls the next delivery 10 mph faster. akram glares at dravid again, goes back to his mark, pitches the next ball again on good length midlle-and-off. dravid plays for in-swing. unfortunately for him, ball goes the other way and clips the top of off stump.

shaking his head, rahul dravid walks away.

I remember M.A.O College Ground in Chauburji Lahore, where Wazim was used to practicing in his early days with others guys, most prominent one was some ``Saud Khan`` looked like Imran Khan. Hitting the sixes to my roof which was straight to net. I was carried the balls from boundries most of the time I stay there and a noon-sports-newspaper. This was the only noon-newspaper at that time. Thank to my elder brother who also liked him and did not tell parents that I was spending most of my time there just watching them and sometimes even not going to school. It was terrible to miss the school and hiding in the same area near my house but what was a pleasure to watch him.
Wazim! ``I have enjoyed every bit of it, too.``
Wazim was very talkative, aggressive and dedicated at the net. I saw Imran there some times also so, may be it is Imran who would be his discoverer. Anyhow, Wasim can confirm this.

Faisaluno #13,

No need to apologise - this particular Indian well remembers that sequence
of deliveries. In fact, Prem Panicker of rediff called it one of the best deliveries
he has seen. The out-swinger that got Dravid out, and the in-swinger just
preceding it, were bowled with almost exactly the same grip, and the ball
pitched at about the same place. Dravid did essentially everything right,
and still had no chance.

I also had a close friend from Lancashire who`s watched Wasim closely
over the years. His estimate of Akram ran quite contrary to his natural
British reticence.

Akram is undoubtedly one of the top 2-3 bowlers I have ever seen. I think
most of his adversaries (including those in the Indian team) would rank him
accordingly.

This post does not mean to under rate Indians or Kris Srikkant in any way. Just a narration of facts.

I distinctly remember on one occasion when the Indian Team was touring Pakistan under Srikkant, Wasim got Srikkant out in all innings apart from one where he took Srikkant’s catch. I also remember that Srikkant was given LBW by an umpire off Wasim and Srikkant was complaining about it going back to the pavilion, when Imran called Srikkant back to the crease. The next delivery from Wasim disturbed the furniture behind Srikkant and he was back in the pavilion satisfied.

Wasim Akram...

A fantastic bowler.. entertainer batsman.. Above all.. he was gentleman on the ground. He was undoubtfully a classic natural bowler.. the proof of all this comes out in the fact that he never had to sledge to take a wicket.

being indian I could tell you all that he still have lot of fans in India too.. I have seen many of my friends feeling really sad due to retirment. he was superb cricketer. I remember him most of the times with smile on his face irrespective of hits and misses.

Regarding shirkant, even shrikant has great respect for Wasim. Wasim has taken his wicket on 7 times out of 8 and he has caught shrikant on other wicket. This is just unbelievable.

We will allways miss you Wasim Akram. Live long and happily..