Tabraiz Shamsi wanted to be a fast bowler just like Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram is rightfully considered to be the greatest left-arm fast bowler the world has ever seen. He is considered to be one of the all-time greats of the game and a proof that Pakistan keeps producing world-class fast bowlers at home Discovered by Imran Khan in early 80s, Wasim made his debut in 1984 in an ODI against New Zealand in Faisalabad.

He made his Test debut against the same team in 1985 and went onto have one of the greatest careers for a bowler. Wasim played 104 Tests, picking 414 wickets and 356 ODIs, picking 502 wickets. He was the first bowler to 500 wickets in ODI cricket and first to take 400 wickets or more in both formats of the game.

Akram was the architect of Pakistan’s win in the finals of the World Cup in 1992, when his wickets of Allan Lamb, Ian Botham and Chris Lewis sealed the deal for the Men in Green to lift the trophy. He also holds the record for the highest score by a no.7 batsman in Tests- 257* against Zimbabwe, with a record 12 sixes to his name.

Tabraiz Shamsi reveals he wanted to bowl fast like Akram

A generation of bowlers has wanted to be Wasim Akram and South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi is none so different. Shamsi, who has made it into the South African 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019. Shamsi can be their trump card and will partner Imran Tahir and JP Duminy in the spin department.

Recently, the Cricket Australia Twitter account shared a compilation of Wasim Akram’s deadliest deliveries and Shamsi couldn’t hold himself from sharing a small story about his love for Akram’s art and how he wanted to emulate the great quick bowler.

Shamsi posted, “Loved watching @wasimakramlive bowl when I was growing up 🤩 Being a left arm “fast bowler” I wanted to grow up and bowl just like him.. until.. one day.. ..at the age of 14 I got told I dont bowl quick enough to be a fast bowler 😭💔 …and thats when I started bowling spin”

Loved watching @wasimakramlive bowl when I was growing up 🤩

Being a left arm "fast bowler" I wanted to grow up and bowl just like him..

until..

one day..

..at the age of 14 I got told I dont bowl quick enough to be a fast bowler 😭💔

…and thats when I started bowling spin https://t.co/8NM1bfbYH1

— Tabraiz Shamsi (@shamsi90) April 27, 2019

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