Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest bowlers of all time. He has been, recently, accused by his countrymen Aamer Sohail for not letting Pakistan win the World Cup tournaments. Now, Akram has indirectly replied to Sohail, saying that some people still use his name to promote themselves.
Wasim was a significant figure in Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup triumph. In the 1996 World Cup, Pakistan led by Akram lost to India in the quarter-final and went out of the mega event.
In 1999, he led Pakistan to the grand finale of the World Cup where Australia defeated them. After this world Cup, controversies started that Akram had fixed the match as Australia easily won the game. However, nothing can be proved in this concern.
In 2003, he didn’t captain the side but was the premier bowler for the team. However, Pakistan failed to reach the final of the tournament, and this led Akram’s end.
I feel very sad: Wasim Akram
Responding to Sohail’s accusation, Akram said that he felt sad after people talked negative things about him publicly to gain limelight. The pacer doesn’t want to respond to such negative comments because he thinks that he will not gain anything from it.
“Whenever I hear these negative things about myself I feel very sad that it has been 17 years since I retired but even today they are some people using my name to promote themselves,” Akram said on a web show.
“I can also make negative comments about these people but what purpose will it serve. That is why I keep quiet. I just think about the respect and love I have earned from the people over the years and even 17 years after retirement,” he said.
Aamer Sohail accused Wasim Akram:
Sohail, who has led the Pakistan team in six Test matches and 22 ODIs, has claimed that Wasim contributed in Pakistan losing World Cups. He even said that Akram was making sure that Pakistan didn’t win the World Cup after 1992.
“It’s very simple. Put the 1992 World Cup to one side and talk about the 1996 World Cup. In 1995, Ramiz Raja was captain. Saleem Malik was the captain before that, he was very successful and if he could have spent one more year as captain then Wasim would not have been leading the side,” Sohail was quoted as saying by Dawn.
“If you look at what happened till 2003, there was this persistence before every World Cup to remove the captain and put Wasim Akram in that role…Look, the biggest contribution by Wasim Akram for Pakistan cricket was making sure Pakistan does not win a World Cup after 92,” he added.
Wasim Akram has played 104 Test matches and 356 ODIs in his illustrious career. In Tests, he has notched up 414 wickets at an average of 23.62. He has 502 ODI wickets at an average of 23.52.