Sultan of Swing: The Unplayable Art of Wasim Akram

Introduction

Wasim Akram is a legendary former Pakistani cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of word fast bowler of the sport. Known for his exceptional skill in swing and seam bowling, he had a remarkable international cricket career that spanned nearly two decades. Akram is regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, as well as the greatest left-arm fast bowler in cricket history.

Attribute	Information
Full Name	Wasim Akram
Date of Birth	Jun 03, 1966
Birth Place	Lahore, Punjab
Age	57 years
Height	6 feet 3 inches
Role	Bowling Allrounder
Batting Style	Left-handed Batsman
Bowling Style	Left-arm fast
Period	(1984 – 2003)
Nationality	Pakistan

Early Life and Family Background

Wasim Akram, the former Pakistani cricketer, was born on June 3, 1966, in Lahore, Pakistan. He came from a modest family background and grew up in the city of Lahore. His father, Chaudhry Muhammad Akram, was a textile worker, while his mother, Begum Akram, was a homemaker.

Wasim Akram showed an early interest in cricket and began playing the sport in the streets of Lahore with a taped tennis ball, which is a common way for many young cricketers in Pakistan to start their careers. His talent and passion for the game quickly became evident, and he started to play at a more competitive level.

As he progressed in his cricketing career, Wasim Akram’s left-arm fast bowling skills earned him recognition and a place in the Pakistani national team. He made his international debut for Pakistan in 1984 in a One Day International (ODI) match against New Zealand and later made his Test debut against New Zealand in 1985. Over the years, he became one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket, known for his pace, swing, and ability to deliver under pressure.

Education

Wasim Akram’s educational background is relatively modest. He attended Government Islamia College Civil Lines in Lahore, Pakistan. While he did not pursue higher education in the traditional sense, he dedicated himself to a career in cricket from a young age and quickly rose to prominence as one of the most talented fast bowlers in the world. His exceptional skills and achievements in cricket have solidified his status as a cricketing legend despite his limited formal education.

Personal Life

Wasim Akram has been married twice. His first wife, Huma, tragically passed away due to multiple organ failure in 2009. He subsequently got married to Shaniera Thompson, an Australian, in 2013. The couple has been open about their relationship and their family life.

Wasim Akram has children from his first marriage. He has three sons: Tahmoor, Akbar, and Taimur.

Wasim Akram has been actively involved in various charitable and philanthropic activities. He has worked on initiatives related to healthcare, particularly diabetes awareness, and has been associated with organizations like the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in Lahore.

After retiring from international cricket, Wasim Akram has been a prominent figure in cricket commentary. He has also made appearances on television shows, often related to cricket analysis and discussion.

Akram is known for his love of cars and has a passion for collecting and driving luxury automobiles. Additionally, he has been involved in coaching and mentoring young cricketers.

Cricket Career

Wasim Akram had an illustrious cricket career that spanned over nearly two decades. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of cricket. Here are some key highlights of his cricket career:

Domestic career

Wasim Akram had a notable domestic cricket career in Pakistan before he gained international fame. Here are some key details about his domestic cricket career:

1. First-Class Debut: Wasim Akram made his first-class cricket debut for Lahore in the 1984-85 season. It didn’t take long for him to showcase his talent and potential as a fast bowler.
2. Domestic Teams: Over the course of his domestic career, Akram represented various teams in Pakistan’s domestic cricket competitions. He played for Lahore, Pakistan Automobiles Corporation (PACO), and Karachi, among others.
3. First-Class Cricket: Akram was primarily known for his performances in first-class cricket. He played a significant number of first-class matches in Pakistan’s domestic tournaments.
4. List A Cricket: In addition to first-class cricket, Akram also played List A cricket in Pakistan’s domestic circuit. His ability to swing the ball and pick up wickets made him a valuable asset in limited-overs cricket as well.
5. Outstanding Performances: During his domestic career, Akram consistently took wickets with his pace and swing. His performances for various teams helped him gain recognition and eventually led to his selection for the national team.
6. Development of Young Cricketers: After retiring from international cricket, Wasim Akram remained involved in Pakistan’s domestic cricket scene. He worked as a mentor and coach, passing on his knowledge and expertise to young fast bowlers and helping develop the next generation of cricketers in Pakistan.

International Career of Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram had a highly successful international cricket career representing Pakistan in both Test matches and One Day Internationals (ODIs). Here is an overview of his international career:

Test Cricket:

1. Debut: Wasim Akram made his Test debut for Pakistan on January 25, 1985, against New Zealand in Auckland.
2. Fast Bowling Prowess: He quickly established himself as one of the premier fast bowlers in the world. His ability to swing the ball both ways, generate pace, and deliver deadly yorkers made him a formidable opponent.
3. Wicket-Taking Ability: Akram ended his Test career with a total of 414 wickets in 104 Test matches, which was a world record at the time of his retirement. He achieved these wickets at an impressive average of 23.62.
4. All-Round Skills: In addition to his bowling prowess, Wasim Akram was a handy lower-order batsman and contributed valuable runs for Pakistan on numerous occasions.
5. Captaincy: Akram had multiple stints as the captain of the Pakistan Test team during his career, and he led the team in a total of 25 Test matches.

One Day Internationals (ODIs):

1. Debut: Wasim Akram made his ODI debut for Pakistan on November 23, 1984, against New Zealand in Faisalabad.
2. ODI Records: He is widely regarded as one of the greatest ODI bowlers in history. Akram took 502 wickets in 356 ODIs at an average of 23.52, making him one of the highest wicket-takers in the format at the time of his retirement.
3. 1992 Cricket World Cup: Akram played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup. He was the highest wicket-taker of the tournament, with 18 wickets, and his performance in the final against England was crucial.
4. Captaincy: Wasim Akram also served as the captain of the Pakistan ODI team for a significant part of his career. He led Pakistan in several tournaments, including the 1996 World Cup.
5. Achievements: Throughout his ODI career, Akram achieved several milestones, including multiple five-wicket hauls and a remarkable hat-trick against Sri Lanka in the 1999 World Cup.

Batting Career Summary

	M	Inn	NO	Runs	HS	Avg	BF	SR	100	200	50	4s	6s
Test	104	147	19	2898	257	22.64	5389	53.78	3	1	7	324	57
ODI	356	280	55	3717	86	16.52	4208	88.33	0	0	6	247	121

Bowling Career Summary

	M	Inn	B	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Econ	Avg	SR	5W	10W
Test	104	181	22627	9779	414	7/119	11/110	2.59	23.62	54.65	25	5
ODI	356	351	18186	11812	502	5/15	5/15	3.9	23.53	36.23	6	0

Retirement

Wasim Akram officially announced his retirement from international cricket on March 17, 2003. His retirement marked the end of a highly successful and illustrious career. Throughout his international cricket career, Wasim Akram was known for his incredible swing bowling and all-round skills. He remains one of Pakistan’s greatest cricketers and one of the finest fast bowlers the world has ever seen. After his retirement, he continued to be involved in the sport through commentary, coaching, and various cricket-related activities.

Wasim Akram Net Worth

Wasim Akram’s net worth in 2024, at the age of 55, is $26.0 million. This is an estimate of his net worth across a number of years.

• 2024 Net Worth: $260,000000
• 2021 Net Worth: $20800000
• 2020 Net Worth: $16640000
• 2019 Net Worth: $13312000

Awards

• Pride of Performance (1992)
• Wisden Cricketer of the Year (1993)
• ICC Cricket Hall of Fame (2009)
• Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Civilian Award)
• Asian Test Championship Player of the Series (1999-2000)
• CEAT International Cricketer of the Year (2011)
• Pakistan Sports Board Hall of Fame
• Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year (1993)

Conclusion

In conclusion, Wasim Akram had a remarkable cricket career that left an indelible mark on the sport in world fast bowler and established him as one of the all-time greats. His journey from a humble background to becoming a cricketing legend is an inspiring story. Akram’s international career, characterized by his devastating pace, swing, and all-round skills, is a testament to his dedication and talent. His records and achievements in both Test matches and ODIs, including his role in Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup victory, have solidified his place in cricket history. Beyond his playing days, Akram’s contributions to cricket as a coach and mentor continue to shape the future of the sport. Wasim Akram’s legacy remains a source of pride for Pakistan and a source of inspiration for cricket enthusiasts around the world.

Also checkout Inspiring Journey of Mohammad Yousuf.

FAQ’s

1.What is Wasim Akram known for?

Ans. Wasim Akram HI (Punjabi, Urdu: وَسیم اکرم; born 3 June 1966) is a Pakistani cricket commentator, coach, and former cricketer and captain of the Pakistan national cricket team. Akram is regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time, as well as the greatest left-arm fast bowler in cricket history.

2.Who found Wasim Akram?

Ans. Pakistan’s former test spinner Hasib Ahsan, who as a selector was credited with discovering all-rounder Wasim Akram, died on Friday at the age of 73.