(PA Credit)
Former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has recounted an incident where he inadvertently failed to inspire his teammate Waqar Younis during a game, leading to Waqar conceding a six to Australian legend Matthew Hayden.
Despite their formidable partnership on the field, reports indicated a rift between Akram and Younis during their playing days, with sources suggesting they often did not communicate. This feud reportedly began around 1999, following Pakistan’s loss to India in the Delhi Test, as detailed in Shoaib Akhtar’s autobiography.
Since retiring from cricket, both Akram and Younis have reconciled, though they have admitted to their strained relationship during their careers. Akram recently shared an anecdote that encapsulates their discord: during a match, Younis sought advice from Akram on how to bowl to Hayden. Akram’s response, reportedly curt, inadvertently demoralized Younis, who subsequently conceded a six to Hayden.
This incident highlights the complex dynamics between the two former pacers, whose on-field success contrasted with their off-field relationship.
“There was a tall partition and adjacent to that there was another ground. He asked me, ‘Wasim Bhai what would happen if I bowl a slower delivery?’ I said, You see that partition at mid-wicket? The ball will go beyond that into the other ground,” Wasim Akram told Sportskeeda.
“Waqar was disheartened as I didn’t give him confidence. He bowled an off-break and Matthew Hayden smashed him into the other ground (laughs). I then told him to climb the partition and bring the ball (laughs),” he added.
His yorkers were the best: Wasim Akram
Continuing his remarks, Wasim Akram praised Waqar Younis for his exceptional skill in delivering yorkers, describing them as the best in the game. Akram reminisced about how Waqar consistently executed yorkers with precision, often resulting in crucial wickets for their team.
“He (Waqar) was quick. His yorkers were the best. He used to bowl yorkers almost at will and used to get wickets with it in his prime. The bowlers of today’s day and age use the word ‘workload’ a lot.
“We didn’t know what workload was. Waqar played county for eight years. His run-up was around 30 metres. He used to sprint from the sightscreen to bowl every delivery,” said Wasim Akram.
Both Akram and Waqar are among the most acclaimed fast bowlers in cricket history. They retired as the leading wicket-takers in ODIs, a record now surpassed only by Muttiah Muralitharan. Akram secured 502 ODI wickets, while Waqar claimed 416. In Test matches, Akram collected 414 wickets, with Waqar close behind at 373.
