Wasim Akram – The Journey Of Legend With Contaversies
Published: 3 Sep 2025
Wasim Akram is one of those few cricketers in history who have carried a title as majestic as “The Sultan of Swing.” Wasim Akram wasn’t just a fast bowler; he was a master craftsman who could make the cricket ball bend, dip, and dart in ways that left even the best batsmen guessing. Most fans remember him for his lethal swinging yorkers, reverse swing, and match-winning spells.
However, at the peak of his career, his name started to come up in match-fixing controversies. The Gosspis were at their peak when the legend himself was. In the quarter final of the 1996 World Cup, Wasim didn’t play against India, and it was hot news that he had allegedly been paid for not playing such a crucial match (which Pakistan lost). After that, people used to see him through the same lens for a long time in every match that he played.
But the story of how he reached that stage is far less known. His journey began not in polished academies or under the watchful eyes of professional coaches. It began on the bustling streets of Lahore, with a tape-ball in hand and nothing but raw talent to guide him. This is the story of how a boy with no cricketing facilities and no formal training rose to become one of cricket’s greatest legends, redefining fast bowling for generations to come.
Early Days – A Natural Talent Found on the Streets
Akram developed his pace and swing in the most unorthodox of settings. What made him stand out early on was his ability to generate raw speed even with a tennis ball.
Teams, he said, used to pay him (a little money at that time) to bowl from their side because of the pace that he generated with tennis and tape ball.
- Unlike future professionals, he had no early domestic record to his name.
- His cricketing education was self-taught, shaped by endless hours of street matches.
- He bowled with a natural rhythm that came not from training manuals but from instinct.
At this stage, Akram had little idea that his backyard experiments with the tape ball were laying the foundation for skills that would later redefine fast bowling. His beginnings remind us that greatness often rises not from privilege but from passion and persistence.
The Turning Point – Unearthing of a Gem
Wasim Akram’s life changed dramatically when his raw pace caught the eyes of those who mattered. In the mid-1980s, he was invited to bowl in the nets for Pakistan’s national team during a practice session. Among the players present was Javed Miandad, one of Pakistan’s greatest batsmen. Miandad was quick to notice that the young left-arm bowler had something special — pace, bounce, and a natural ability to swing the ball. What made Akram stand out was not polished technique, but the raw, untamed quality of his bowling.
- Javed Miandad personally recommended Akram for the national camp, despite the youngster having no first-class experience.
- Imran Khan, then captain of Pakistan, saw in him a bowler who could be molded into a match-winner.
- Within months, Akram went from playing street cricket to representing Pakistan on the international stage.
This leap was nothing short of extraordinary. For most cricketers, the journey to international cricket takes years of domestic performances and gradual progression. For Akram, it was a sudden and almost unbelievable rise — proof that sometimes raw talent, when spotted at the right moment, can skip every traditional step.
Rise to International Stardom
Akram’s rise to the international stage was as dramatic as it was unlikely. Having been picked for Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand in 1985 without any first-class reputation, expectations were modest. But in just his second Test at Dunedin, he shocked the cricketing world by taking 10 wickets in the match — he marked himself as a special talent. His ability to generate pace and swing with a whippy left-arm action made him stand out from the very beginning.
Through the late 1980s, Akram matured quickly. He bowled decisive spells against strong opponents, including the mighty West Indies, earning respect as a bowler who could trouble even the best. Though he often struggled with fitness and consistency in his early years, his natural gifts meant he was never far from match-winning performances.
Some key highlights from his early rise:
- 1985–86: 10 wickets in his second Test vs New Zealand.
- 1987 World Cup: Emerged as Pakistan’s strike bowler, picking up 18 wickets.
- 1988–89 tour of the West Indies: Bowled fiery spells that gained him recognition as one of the few pacers who could challenge the Caribbean batting giants in their own backyard.
By the end of the decade, Akram had transformed from a raw, street-found talent into Pakistan’s premier fast bowler, feared for his pace, bounce, and the hint of movement that would later evolve into the legendary reverse swing. He was no longer just a prospect — he was on his way to becoming one of cricket’s most complete fast bowlers.
In a candid interview, Wasim Akram said: ‘I was given the captaincy when I was just 26 years old, without ever having captained even a town team. It affected my performance as a bowler.
Wasim Akram: A Test Giant or an ODI Specialist?
When cricket fans hear the name Wasim Akram, two images instantly come to mind — the greatest left-arm bowler in history and the undisputed Sultan of Swing. His artistry with the ball has been praised by some of the finest batsmen ever to play the game, and in the limited-overs arena, his achievements are second to none. Yet, when we turn to his Test career, the numbers and context raise an interesting question: Was Wasim Akram slightly underwhelming in Tests compared to ODIs?
The Numbers That Spark the Debate
On paper, Akram’s Test career looks elite — 414 wickets, an average better than Dennis Lillee, and a strike rate of under 55. But a closer look reveals patterns that don’t quite align with the reputation of a bowler often called the greatest of all time.
- Ten-wicket hauls: 4 of his 5 came in matches Pakistan ended up losing.
- Top-order impact: Only 32% of his wickets were against batsmen in positions 1–3, compared to higher percentages for contemporaries like Marshall, McGrath, and Kapil Dev.
- Quality of dismissals: A striking 16% of his victims averaged less than 10 across their careers.
- Victim average: The batters he dismissed averaged just 26.91, far below what most ATG fast bowlers managed.
Why This Happened
Some of the context explains part of the story. Akram shared the new ball with giants like Imran Khan and Waqar Younis, which meant fewer chances to run through the top orders. He also bowled mostly on subcontinental pitches that favored spin rather than fast bowling. Still, critics argue that bowlers like Malcolm Marshall, Allan Donald, and Glenn McGrath thrived despite strong bowling partners and varied conditions.
Performances Against the Best
Another telling detail is Akram’s record against the strongest teams of his time. He had only one standout series against Australia in the 1990s and fairly average numbers against South Africa. Against the West Indies in the 1980s, his returns were respectable but not dominant.
Legacy in Perspective
So, was Wasim Akram an “underachiever” in Tests? The answer depends on perspective.
- If you judge purely by artistry, skill, and influence, Akram belongs in the absolute top bracket.
- If you compare raw Test numbers with peers like Marshall, Ambrose, McGrath, or even Kapil Dev, there is an argument that his Test record doesn’t fully reflect his genius.
Perhaps the truth lies in between: Akram may not have been the most statistically dominant Test bowler, but his impact — especially the way he redefined swing bowling — makes his legacy untouchable
He was a great bowler of his time, despite allegations of match fixing that could have dented anyone’s performance.
A statue of Wasim Akram has been erected outside the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad, Pakistan
