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Akram, Wasim (1966– )

Pakistani cricketer. A left-arm fast bowler and hard-hitting batsman who made his Test debut at the age of 18 and soon established himself as one of the world's leading players. He was the first player to take more than 400 wickets in both Test and One-day internationals, and has taken more wickets in One-day internationals than any other player, surpassing the 500-wicket mark during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. He played county cricket for Lancashire from 1988 to 1998, and in September 1998 captained the team to victory in the NatWest Trophy and helped them clinch the AXA League title. He led Pakistan to the final of the 1999 World Cup. He was replaced as Pakistan captain in January 2000, and played his 100th Test match in November 2000, becoming just the fourth regular bowler to do so in Test history.

Career highlights

Test cricket (1985–2002)

appearances: 104; batting: runs: 2,898; average: 22.64; not out: 19; 100s: 3; best: 257 not out (v. Zimbabwe 1996); bowling: overs: 3,777.1; wickets: 414; runs: 9,779; average: 23.62; best: 7–119 (v. New Zealand 1994);

catches: 44

One-day internationals (1984–2003)

appearances: 356; batting: runs: 3,717; average: 16.52; not out: 55; best: 86 (v. Australia 1990); bowling: overs: 3,031; wickets: 502; runs: 11,812; average: 23.52; best: 5–15 (v. Zimbabwe 1993); catches: 88

All first-class cricket (1984–2003)

appearances: 257; batting: runs: 7,161; average: 22.73; not out: 40; 100s: 7; best: 257 not out (v. Zimbabwe 1996); bowling: overs: 8,379.3; wickets: 1,042; runs: 22,549; average: 21.64; best: 8–30 (v. Somerset 1994); catches: 97

Awards

Wisden Cricketer of the Year

1993

In March 1998, the Pakistan Cricket Board linked his name to match-fixing allegations for the second time in a year. He strongly protested his innocence. Later in 1998, he announced his retirement from international cricket. However, after a few months he reversed his decision and returned to the Pakistan Test team for the home series against Australia. In September 1999 a Pakistan judicial commission cleared him of all the match-fixing and bribery allegations. He was also reinstated as Pakistan captain, but was later fined a small amount following an investigation in May 2000.

In two matches against Sri Lanka, in the inaugural Asian Test Championship in March 1998, he became the first bowler to achieve a hat-trick in successive Test matches. He claimed the first one at Lahore, Pakistan, on 7 March, and the second on 14 March at Dhaka, Bangladesh, in the final of the competition.

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