The game of cricket has witnessed an amazing bowler with an unorthodox run-up and action. The one who had the ability to swing the ball both ways in the air and even after it hit the surface, he is none other than the greatest of left-hand bowlers of all time Wasim Akram.
With over 400 wickets in Tests and more than 500 wickets in the One-Day Internationals, Wasim Akram was a nightmare for the best of the batsmen around the world. Wasim Akram who could bowl almost every delivery a fast bowler can bowl was not only fast and aggressive but he was a wonderful exponent of late swing and reverse swing bowling.
Former Pakistan International and Captain Wasim Akram played a key role in the victory of Pakistan in 1992 World Cup. It was this period when the world was able to witness a new phase of quick bowlers, most of them trying to swing the ball both ways. Akram was unbelievable when it comes to reverse swings, he even had allegations of ball tampering against him but was found clean. Besides all these things, Wasim Akram was just too good to watch and no one was able to do things with the ball the way he was able to do them.
Wasim Akram has been an inspiration for the fast bowlers all across the world and that is the reason he has not been away from the game even after his retirement. Wasim Akram has been a part of many training camps where he has trained young bowlers by improving them as a cricketer and boosting their confidence as well. What made his fans love about this wonderful bowler was his batting and aggression that he brought to the field and his wicket-taking ability.
Wasim Akram started like any other bowler of the world, his run-up was never considered as the best, he still went on to be named among the top bowlers of the world. With the likes of Imran Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz, he was developed into a skillful and wicket-taking bowler but it was his dedication and standard of performance that made him the best in the world.
Pakistan's speedster Muhammad Amir is considered to be as gifted as Wasim Akram but time will tell if he can develop himself and become someone like him. It takes a lot of practice, willingness and ability to be the best and to be compared with the best.
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