Wasim Akram announces international retirement
Wisden CricInfo staff - 18 May 2003
Wasim Akram has announced that he is retiring from international cricket with immediate effect.
Wasim said that it was time to look to life after cricket. "My future is somewhere else after September," he told Sky Sports's Charles Colville. "Maybe I will be working in television or coaching. There are no regrets. There have been ups and downs but I would not have changed it for anything else."
Wasim had suggested that he was ready to quit several times in recent months, but the bitter disappointment of the World Cup proved to be a tournament too far. He was subsequently dropped for April's Sharjah Cup and was also omitted from the Pakistan squad for the current Bank Alfalah Cup triangular series. At 36, and with Pakistan publicly looking to build for the future, it was unlikely whether Wasim would have been able to force his way back into the side anyway.
Wasim Akram Retires
-
MrsTarrant
- Posts: 600
- Joined: Tue Jul 16, 2002 6:01 pm
- Location: Melbourne
- Contact:
-
Donny
- Posts: 80336
- Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2002 6:01 pm
- Location: Toonumbar NSW Australia
- Has liked: 65 times
- Been liked: 28 times
Hey that's excellent, HAL. You're learning, m8.
Profile:
The all-time great
Yet another in the long line of Pakistan's precocious cricketers, Wasim Akram was being compared to legendary Australian left-handed quickie, Allan Davidson, even before he had played his first Test. By the time he played his 100th Test, he had established himself not only as the greatest southpaw ever, but also as one of all-time greats of the game.
Brought out of the wilderness by that astute spotter of new talent, Javed Miandad, he took to the big league as easily as a fish to water. In only his second Test against New Zealand at Dunedin, the prodigy had a haul of 10 wickets, becoming the youngest bowler to achieve the signal honour.
He was lightning fast then, revelling in his youth and was also quick to learn all the tricks of the trade from his mentor, Imran Khan, who was generous in imparting his knowledge to the young protege. Under the master's benign gaze, he quickly fashioned his lethal swinging yorker, deceptive variation of pace, the one moving sharply into the right-handed batsman as well as his natural away-swinger slanting across the right-hander, and employed this formidable array to telling effect. He was soon being singled out as being among the all-time greats of bowling.
After 15 years of intense international cricket, both for his country and in county cricket in England, his pace may have slowed down a fraction but his penetration and ability to beat the bat almost at will remains unrivalled. And he has a glorious record to show for his efforts. Wasim Akram is the only bowler to have captured more than 400 wickets both in Test and one-day cricket. The only one to have passed 400 in the limited-overs cricket, he also has a brace of hat-tricks in both forms of the game.
As captain, his greatest disappointment was in not being able to emulate the feat of Imran Khan and winning the 1999 World Cup, bowing out to Australia in the final: a case of so near, yet so far. Yet another major reverse also fell in late 1999, when with him leading the side Down Under, Pakistan was blanked out by the Aussies in the short rubber.
To this greatest of left-handed bowlers the game has known, another letdown must be his inability to establish himself as a genuine all-rounder in the class of Imran. Despite flashes of brilliance, as in the '92 World Cup and in the Sheikhupura Test against Zimbabwe, when he made 257, he has not fulfilled his tremendous potential - and cricket is the loser for it.
The match-fixing scandal that has haunted him for nearly half a decade is also a blot on an otherwise brilliant career.
Despite these, Akram holds his own in the pantheon of all-time greats by the sheer dint of his performances, his unmatched versatility and guile. - Agha Akbar
Profile:
The all-time great
Yet another in the long line of Pakistan's precocious cricketers, Wasim Akram was being compared to legendary Australian left-handed quickie, Allan Davidson, even before he had played his first Test. By the time he played his 100th Test, he had established himself not only as the greatest southpaw ever, but also as one of all-time greats of the game.
Brought out of the wilderness by that astute spotter of new talent, Javed Miandad, he took to the big league as easily as a fish to water. In only his second Test against New Zealand at Dunedin, the prodigy had a haul of 10 wickets, becoming the youngest bowler to achieve the signal honour.
He was lightning fast then, revelling in his youth and was also quick to learn all the tricks of the trade from his mentor, Imran Khan, who was generous in imparting his knowledge to the young protege. Under the master's benign gaze, he quickly fashioned his lethal swinging yorker, deceptive variation of pace, the one moving sharply into the right-handed batsman as well as his natural away-swinger slanting across the right-hander, and employed this formidable array to telling effect. He was soon being singled out as being among the all-time greats of bowling.
After 15 years of intense international cricket, both for his country and in county cricket in England, his pace may have slowed down a fraction but his penetration and ability to beat the bat almost at will remains unrivalled. And he has a glorious record to show for his efforts. Wasim Akram is the only bowler to have captured more than 400 wickets both in Test and one-day cricket. The only one to have passed 400 in the limited-overs cricket, he also has a brace of hat-tricks in both forms of the game.
As captain, his greatest disappointment was in not being able to emulate the feat of Imran Khan and winning the 1999 World Cup, bowing out to Australia in the final: a case of so near, yet so far. Yet another major reverse also fell in late 1999, when with him leading the side Down Under, Pakistan was blanked out by the Aussies in the short rubber.
To this greatest of left-handed bowlers the game has known, another letdown must be his inability to establish himself as a genuine all-rounder in the class of Imran. Despite flashes of brilliance, as in the '92 World Cup and in the Sheikhupura Test against Zimbabwe, when he made 257, he has not fulfilled his tremendous potential - and cricket is the loser for it.
The match-fixing scandal that has haunted him for nearly half a decade is also a blot on an otherwise brilliant career.
Despite these, Akram holds his own in the pantheon of all-time greats by the sheer dint of his performances, his unmatched versatility and guile. - Agha Akbar
Donny.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
-
Donny
- Posts: 80336
- Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2002 6:01 pm
- Location: Toonumbar NSW Australia
- Has liked: 65 times
- Been liked: 28 times
Former captains praise Wasim
Wisden CricInfo staff - 19 May 2003
Wasim Akram was showered with praise by former colleagues following his decision to end his 19-year international career, but Pakistan's selectors also came in for criticism over their handling of him.
Former captain Imran Khan, who mentored Wasim as an 18-year-old, hailed him as one of last century's greatest fast bowlers. "I reckon Wasim and West Indian Michael Holding are two of the best and most natural fast bowlers of the century," Khan told AFP.
Taking Wasim under his wing in 1984, Imran nurtured him until he became one of international cricket's most productive fast bowlers. "Grooming Wasim was the easiest thing because he was naturally gifted. All I ingrained in him was the ability to take wickets," said Imran, adding that the retirement decision was "the right thing."
But Imran accused the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of ending Wasim's career in an undignified manner. "I do think the PCB should not have dumped him in such an unceremonious manner."
Another former captain, Zaheer Abbas, described Wasim as the "pride of Pakistani cricket." He continued: "Losing a player like Wasim is the most depressing thing. It will be hard to replace him."
But Amir Sohail, Pakistan's chief selector, denied Wasim's decision was prompted by his expulsion. "We did not close the doors on any senior player. Wasim could have staged a comeback," he said. "Wasim was a great servant of Pakistani cricket and I pay him the richest of tributes."
Wisden CricInfo staff - 19 May 2003
Wasim Akram was showered with praise by former colleagues following his decision to end his 19-year international career, but Pakistan's selectors also came in for criticism over their handling of him.
Former captain Imran Khan, who mentored Wasim as an 18-year-old, hailed him as one of last century's greatest fast bowlers. "I reckon Wasim and West Indian Michael Holding are two of the best and most natural fast bowlers of the century," Khan told AFP.
Taking Wasim under his wing in 1984, Imran nurtured him until he became one of international cricket's most productive fast bowlers. "Grooming Wasim was the easiest thing because he was naturally gifted. All I ingrained in him was the ability to take wickets," said Imran, adding that the retirement decision was "the right thing."
But Imran accused the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of ending Wasim's career in an undignified manner. "I do think the PCB should not have dumped him in such an unceremonious manner."
Another former captain, Zaheer Abbas, described Wasim as the "pride of Pakistani cricket." He continued: "Losing a player like Wasim is the most depressing thing. It will be hard to replace him."
But Amir Sohail, Pakistan's chief selector, denied Wasim's decision was prompted by his expulsion. "We did not close the doors on any senior player. Wasim could have staged a comeback," he said. "Wasim was a great servant of Pakistani cricket and I pay him the richest of tributes."
Donny.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
-
Donny
- Posts: 80336
- Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2002 6:01 pm
- Location: Toonumbar NSW Australia
- Has liked: 65 times
- Been liked: 28 times
Ill health forces Wasim Akram to break Hampshire contract
Wisden CricInfo Staff - July 15, 2003
Pakistani legend Wasim Akram has been forced to quit his Hampshire contract for health reasons.
Wasim, who was on a one-year contract, made his decision today according to sources close to the left-arm fast-medium bowler.
Wasim is a diabetic and has been unwell over the past few months and has missed three of Hampshire's eight championship games. His departure is with immediate effect and Hampshire have started looking for a replacement.
Wasim is understood to have made the decision on advice from his doctors and has expressed his thanks to the club and his team-mates. He said he had enjoyed his brief stay with the club and wished it every success in its future.
When contacted, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said he wished Wasim a speedy recovery to full health.
His absence will be a disappointment to Hampshire as he had been working well with the side's younger players.
In his first-class career Wasim has taken 1042 wickets at 21.64. He has 414 Test wickets at 23.62 and 502 wickets at 23.52 and an economy rate of 3.89.
In five county championship games for Hampshire this year he headed the bowling averages with 20 wickets at 25.15.
Wisden CricInfo Staff - July 15, 2003
Pakistani legend Wasim Akram has been forced to quit his Hampshire contract for health reasons.
Wasim, who was on a one-year contract, made his decision today according to sources close to the left-arm fast-medium bowler.
Wasim is a diabetic and has been unwell over the past few months and has missed three of Hampshire's eight championship games. His departure is with immediate effect and Hampshire have started looking for a replacement.
Wasim is understood to have made the decision on advice from his doctors and has expressed his thanks to the club and his team-mates. He said he had enjoyed his brief stay with the club and wished it every success in its future.
When contacted, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said he wished Wasim a speedy recovery to full health.
His absence will be a disappointment to Hampshire as he had been working well with the side's younger players.
In his first-class career Wasim has taken 1042 wickets at 21.64. He has 414 Test wickets at 23.62 and 502 wickets at 23.52 and an economy rate of 3.89.
In five county championship games for Hampshire this year he headed the bowling averages with 20 wickets at 25.15.
Donny.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
-
Donny
- Posts: 80336
- Joined: Sun Aug 04, 2002 6:01 pm
- Location: Toonumbar NSW Australia
- Has liked: 65 times
- Been liked: 28 times
Wasim not keen on international comeback
Wisden CricInfo staff - July 23, 2003
Wasim Akram has admitted he is unlikely to come out of retirement, not even to play in a farewell appearance against South Africa in October.
Wasim, who was one of eight players dropped after a disappointing World Cup campaign, had been offered the chance to play one last ODI in front of his home crowds, either in Karachi or Lahore. But, after his stint at Hampshire was cut short by illness (he is a diabetic), Wasim may now hang up his boots for good.
"I am grateful to the Pakistan board that they have offered me this final chance to play for Pakistan and in front of my home crowd," said Wasim. "But I think once you have retired it is over. So far I have not given [the PCB] any reply. But I am not really keen on playing any international match again. Doctors have advised me [to] rest for the time being."
In the meantime, Wasim has been summoned to appear before a Lahore court in September, to face charges of breaking Islamic law by appearing in an Indian liquor advertisement. A petition was filed by a Pakistani citizen, Mohammad Fayez, who demands a public apology from Wasim and damages of 25,000 rupees, roughly US$400.
Wasim, unsurprisingly, denies all the charges. "The news that a petition is filed against me in a Pakistan court surprised me," he said, "because I never featured in a liquor advertisement and can never imagine to break religious laws. I think it's a publicity stunt which is very common in Pakistan and I am used to it." Fayez's lawyer, Ansar Mahmood Bajwa, insisted it was a matter of principle.
Wisden CricInfo staff - July 23, 2003
Wasim Akram has admitted he is unlikely to come out of retirement, not even to play in a farewell appearance against South Africa in October.
Wasim, who was one of eight players dropped after a disappointing World Cup campaign, had been offered the chance to play one last ODI in front of his home crowds, either in Karachi or Lahore. But, after his stint at Hampshire was cut short by illness (he is a diabetic), Wasim may now hang up his boots for good.
"I am grateful to the Pakistan board that they have offered me this final chance to play for Pakistan and in front of my home crowd," said Wasim. "But I think once you have retired it is over. So far I have not given [the PCB] any reply. But I am not really keen on playing any international match again. Doctors have advised me [to] rest for the time being."
In the meantime, Wasim has been summoned to appear before a Lahore court in September, to face charges of breaking Islamic law by appearing in an Indian liquor advertisement. A petition was filed by a Pakistani citizen, Mohammad Fayez, who demands a public apology from Wasim and damages of 25,000 rupees, roughly US$400.
Wasim, unsurprisingly, denies all the charges. "The news that a petition is filed against me in a Pakistan court surprised me," he said, "because I never featured in a liquor advertisement and can never imagine to break religious laws. I think it's a publicity stunt which is very common in Pakistan and I am used to it." Fayez's lawyer, Ansar Mahmood Bajwa, insisted it was a matter of principle.
Donny.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
It's a game. Enjoy it.
