Wasim Akram (Urdu: وسیم اکرم; born 3 June 1966) is a former Pakistani first-class cricketer, cricket commentator and television personality. He is acknowledged as one of the greatest bowlers of all time.[1][2][3][4] A left-arm fast bowler who could bowl with significant pace, he represented the Pakistan cricket team in Test cricket and One Day International (ODI) matches. In October 2013, Wasim Akram was the only Pakistani cricketer to be named in an all-time Test World XI to mark the 150th anniversary of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.[5][6][7][8]
Akram is regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of game, and perhaps the finest of all left-arm fast bowlers. He holds the world record for most wickets in List A cricket, with 881, and he is second only to Sri Lankan off-spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan in terms of ODI wickets, with 502 in total. He is considered to be one of the founders—and perhaps the finest exponent of—reverse swing bowling.[9][10][11]
He was the first bowler to reach the 500-wicket mark in ODI cricket during the 2003 World Cup. In 2002, Wisden released its only list of best players of all time. Wasim was ranked as the best bowler in ODI of all time, with a rating of 1223.5, ahead of Allan Donald, Imran Khan, Waqar Younis, Joel Garner, Glenn McGrath and Muralitharan.[12] Wasim has taken 23 four-wicket hauls in ODI in 356 matches he played.[9] On 30 September 2009, Akram was one of five new members inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.[13][14] He was the bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders.[15] However, he took a break from the position for IPL 6, citing a need to spend more time with family in Karachi,[16] and he took a further break from the upcoming IPL 2017; during this time, Akram will be replaced by Lakshmipathy Balaji.
He was working as director and bowling coach of Islamabad United in Pakistan Super League, until he left to join Multan Sultans in August 2017.[17]
