Wasim Akram names his all-time favourite player

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram in a recent interview said that only one cricketer has remained his all-time favourite and that is Imran Khan, his mentor and the current prime minister of Pakistan. Imran played a key role in spotting Akram and the latter went on to become a renowned bowler under his captaincy. Akram was adjudged the Man of the Match in the final of the 1992 World Cup – the only time Pakistan won the title and it was again, under the leadership of Imran.

Speaking to Hashtag Network, the 52-year-old former left-hand fast bowler said he had posters of players like Imran, Javed Miandad, Asif Iqbal as well as Zaheer Abbas in his room as a youngster. He said he used to go to see these players practising at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Akram feels for today’s youngsters

He also mentioned that the following of the game has changed in the last few years. When they were playing, not just the stadiums but the hotel lobby, even streets where they travelled were packed with fans. Playing in front of empty stands becomes rather difficult for the players to keep themselves motivated.

“For last six, seven, eight years, I feel for the youngsters. They play in empty stadiums today. When we used to play, the hotel lobby used to packed. People were on the streets when we travelled. The ground used to packed. Crowds remained even after the match got ever. Wherever you went, everything was packed.

Everybody is waving because it is their own team. Our boys play in front of empty stands and it becomes very difficult to motivate yourself. Even those who aspire to play for Pakistan, they do not get to see their heroes in front of them,” Akram rued.

When asked what made Imran a great man, Akram said a leader’s quality lied in the fact that his action spoke more than the words. “Imran used to believe that if you work hard, you will succeed,” Akram said, adding that the former Pakistan captain is still fit because he still exercises, goes to gym and eats healthy.

Akram also said that Imran caught easily if anybody tried to pretend and not do actual hard work.

Here is the video of the interview:

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