Wasim Akram

Acknowledged as one of the greatest bowlers of all time, Wasim Akram is a highly-respected figure within the cricket industry. Not only has he captained the Pakistan national cricket team, he has also gone on to coach and commentate on the sport. Starting his world-class cricket career in 1984 with the Pakistan Automobiles Corporation, Wasim also began to represent Pakistan in the same year, gaining his first cap for the country in 1985. Since the early years, he has repeatedly triumphed in domestic and international competitions and has become world-renowned for his left-arm fast bowling. Akram is regarded as one of the greatest fast-bowlers in the history of the game.

In 2002, Wisden released its only list of best players of all time, in which Akram was ranked as the best-bowler in ODI of all time, holding a rating of 1223.5. Over the course of his career, Wasim won twenty-two Man of the Match Awards in ODIs and in his test matches achieved 414 wickets in 104 matches, a Pakistan record. In September of 2009, Akram was one of five new members inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame- an extraordinary achievement for anyone.

Since his retirement, Wasim has taken his expertise to the small screen as a commentator for ESPN Star Sports and ARY Digital. Some of the high-profile tournaments he’s covered include the 2009 ICC World Twentry20 in England, 2009 Women’s Cricket World Cup and the 2011 ICC World CU in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Wasim could has not deserted his days on the pitch, and has also become a coach since his playing days have come to an end. In 2010 he was appointed as the bowling coach for the Indian Premier League team, Kolkata Knight Riders. As a cricket expert, Wasim is a fantastic addition to any event where he will share stories of the glory days, his experiences in the media and how he teaches the next generation. His passion shines through in his lighthearted and entertaining talks that capture the crowd’s attention.