ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday inducted former Pakistan captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram into the PCB Hall of Fame for his services to Pakistan cricket.
The PCB Hall of Fame was launched in April 2021 to celebrate achievements of one of the greatest cricketers produced by Pakistan and to preserve the South Asian nation’s rich cricket history.
Akram is regarded as arguably the most skilled left-arm fast bowler to have ever played cricket. He represented Pakistan in 356 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and took 502 wickets. Akram played 104 Test matches for Pakistan, taking a total of 414 wickets.
“1992 World Cup winner and former captain Wasim Akram, who took a total of 916 wickets and scored 6,615 runs in an international career from 1984 to 2003, was formally inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame on Sunday,” the PCB said in a statement.
Akram was inducted by the iconic former West Indies batter Sir Viv Richards, who presented him with a commemorative cap and a plaque ahead of the 28th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium.
The former Pakistan captain joins seven other cricketing greats named for the PCB Hall of Fame. Abdul Qadir, Fazal Mahmood, Hanif Mohammad, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Waqar Younis and Zaheer Abbas will be formally inducted into the prestigious group in the coming days.
“I feel privileged to have received this great honor from Sir Vivian Richards, one of the most iconic figures in cricket, and at a venue that remained my home ground during my playing career,” Akram said on the occasion.
“I also want to compliment the PCB for launching this initiative to recognize and acknowledge the contributions of former cricketers.”
The photograph shows the commemorative cap handed over to Wasim Akram as he was formally inducted into PCB PCB Hall of Fame on February 20, 2022. (@TheRealPCBMedia/Twitter)
The former Pakistan captain said it was an honor for him to serve Pakistan cricket for 18 years. “Every wicket and every run I scored in these matches was priceless. I can’t thank God Almighty enough for providing me with the opportunity to serve this great country at the highest level.”
Akram thanked Pakistani cricket fans for standing by him through thick and thin, and his family and friends for bucking him up throughout the years.
Richards said it was an honor for him to induct Akram into the PCB Hall of Fame.
“My first encounter with Wasim Akram was in 1985 in Australia and in the twilight of my career, I was happy I would not be facing him much,” he said. “I clearly remember telling my junior partner that he will cause a lot of problems for his generation of cricketers and Wasim proved me right.”
Akram was an outstanding cricketer and “a great ambassador for our sport,” he added.
