Wasim Akram (born 3 June 1966) is a Pakistani cricket commentator, coach, and former cricketer who captained the Pakistan national cricket team. A left-arm fast bowler known for his pace and mastery of swing, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game and is often referred to as the Sultan of Swing. He is considered one of the pioneers and finest exponents of reverse swing bowling.
| Full name | Wasim Akram |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 3 June 1966 |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Bowling style | Left-arm fast |
| Role | Bowler; former captain of Pakistan |
| ODI wickets | 502 in 356 matches |
| List A wickets | 881 (world record) |
| Honours | Hilal-e-Imtiaz (2019); ICC Cricket Hall of Fame (2009) |
Wasim Akram emerged as a leading fast bowler for Pakistan in the late 1980s and went on to captain the side. His left-arm pace, combined with the ability to swing the ball both conventionally and in reverse, established him as a leading figure of his generation.
Akram was a member of the Pakistani squad that won the 1992 Cricket World Cup. As captain, he subsequently led Pakistan to the final of the 1999 Cricket World Cup, where the side lost to Australia by 8 wickets. During the 2003 World Cup, he became the first bowler to reach the 500-wicket mark in One Day International cricket.
Akram holds the world record for the most wickets in List A cricket, with 881 dismissals. In ODI cricket, his tally of 502 wickets is second only to that of Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. He took 23 four-wicket hauls in his 356 ODI appearances.
In 2002, Wisden released its only list of the best players of all time, ranking Akram as the best bowler in ODI cricket with a rating of 1223.5, ahead of Allan Donald, Imran Khan, Waqar Younis, Joel Garner, Glenn McGrath and Muttiah Muralitharan. In October 2013, he was the only Pakistani cricketer named in an all-time Test World XI selected to mark the 150th anniversary of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.
After retiring as a player, Akram took up coaching and administrative positions in domestic Twenty20 leagues:
Akram's career is associated with the development and popularisation of reverse swing bowling, a craft for which Pakistani fast bowlers became renowned. His record-breaking returns in limited-overs cricket, combined with leadership of Pakistan in a World Cup final and a winner's medal from the 1992 World Cup, have placed him among the most decorated cricketers of his era.