Wasim Akram inducted into ICC Cricket Hall of Fame

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

CRICKET: Former Pakistan cricketing legend Wasim Akram ,who has been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, said that a lot of criticism has been levelled at one-day cricket, but insisted that one-day cricket should be there for the survival of the game.

"There are three formats in cricket , Test, 50/50 and 20/20 version of the game. But 50/50 has to be there, because you need lot of fitness and concentration, in 20/20 it is good and fair enough, as it is entertainment and fun. But 50/50 and Test cricket is all about quality, and we need quality players," he said.

Akram, the left-arm paceman, who was a vital cog in the Pakistan bowling machine during his hey days, said that he came to know his inclusion in the elite list of past players three weeks ago, and the award was presented on October 4 prior to the champions trophy final in Johannesburg.

"It is an honour, because when I started playing cricket as a kid, as any other kid in our part of the world, I had pictures of Javed Miandad, Imran Khan in my room, and later on I was playing with the elite players, which was a dream come true for me. I learnt a lot from them, Mudassar Nassar made sure in the beginning of my career that I work hard, he said that my aim should be to play for Pakistan for at least 12 to 15 years. That should be your first aim and everything will follow thereafter" he said. I have been getting the mementos, advice at the right time that helped me, not only for Pakistan, but when I was a budding player, Akram said.

"My coaches were the late Zadeer Khan and Khan Mohammed. Mohammed was in a coaching camp and he saw me and picked me young, when I was playing for my club. He came up and made my name known to the press and the rest is history. I still cannot believe that I am in the company of the likes of Sir Don Bradman, Viv Richards, the great Sunil Gavaskar, Imran Khan, Hanif Mohammed, Javed Miandad and Sir Garfield Sobers. I would like to thank the ICC, the Pakistan Cricket Board, over the years who had helped me, and my colleagues who played with me, press and the media who have been helpful to create what I am now today," added Wasim.

I got the news three weeks ago. But I was asked to be quiet, and the news would be announced in due course. The news came at the right moment when Pakistan reached the semi-final of the 50/50 tourney. I think the news should boost Pakistan cricket in general." Akram said.

When Hanif and Imran were included in the ICC Hall of Fame, it was big news in Pakistan and it boosted the entire nation's morale and I believe this should do the same," Wasim said, and added that Pakistan has a lot of cricketing talent and eventually teams will start coming to Pakistan, It might not happen in the near future, but the manner in which we are performing, eventually teams will have to come to Pakistan because there is so much talent and passion for the game stressed the former Pakistan South paw.

Akram, going back to his memorable playing days, said that in his first trip to India and in the Bangalore Test, after the match ended in a nail-biting finish, he realised how important an India-Pakistan cricket series was, and how the pressure situation was.

The pressure and the beauty of an India-Pakistan game in the field is difficult to explain. Referring to Sachin Tendulkar's future, Akram said that it depends how much passion and energy he could generate. You can create energy by training, but passion has to come within. And Sachin has it. The Innings we saw recently in Sri Lanka in an ODI series bore ample testimony, Akram said.

He said that he has bowled almost at every batsman, but one batsman he feared most was Australian Adam Gilchrist. He wasn't a slogger, bowling at any other opener you may get hit, but you have a chance of getting him out. But against Gilchrist he was impossible to get away.

If you pitched it up he would drive you straight, pitch short he will cut and slightly shorter pull or hook you. He was very, very quick on his feet and that made it more difficult. There was of course, Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Martin Crowe, Viv Richards earlier on in my career. In different eras there were players and they were very difficult to dislodge when they were on song.

Akram firmly believes that flat wickets should be prepared for ODI's so that the batsmen of either side could score runs. The side that bats first should put up a good score so that the chase will be difficult. I would have played over 100 games in Sharjah. You need to learn how to bowl on those flat tracks. You need a lot more fitness in a 50-over game, than in a Test match or T20. In a Test, you need the fitness for a spell, then you can rest at fine leg. But in a 50-over game, you got to be involved in every delivery.

Your fielding has to be spot on all the time, and that's why the better fielding sides do consistently well", Akram said.

"My Inspirator was definitely Imran Khan, Akram added and said that It was the year 1978 when India toured Pakistan under Bishen Singh, "I used to carry a pocket radio in my bag to listen to the cricket commentary. And we use to see Imran getting wickets and scoring runs from a black and white television. So Imran has been my Inspirator on and off the field." confessed Akram. of his mentor.

Akram said that it was in 1989 they were playing a Tri-Nation Tournament and had a long practice session and obviously they thought that they will go back and sleep. But on that particular day, Australia was playing West Indies and Imran wanted everyone to watch this game, and to be prepared as he would ask questions the following day.

So by watching it was possible that one can learn a lot, how great players perform. But these days the habbit of watching has gone down a bit, because there is so much cricket being played around the world.