Wasim Akram’s International career in numbers

Wasim Akram was a master of swing and seam bowling while being a left-arm pacer that gave him an advantage with the bowling angle. He could rattle through some of the best batters in the game on the merit of pure skill. Akram represented Pakistan in 356 ODIs and 104 Test matches before ending his career as the most successful bowler in their history. He also led Pakistan in over 100 International matches before retiring in 2003 which concluded his 17-year-old career as the most successful left-arm bowler.

On the occasion of Wasim Akram’s 52nd birthday, we take a look at the major numbers from his International career:

1 – Wasim Akram is the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan in Test cricket (414), ODI cricket (502) and all International cricket (916). His wickets tally in ODIs and Internationals is the highest for a left-arm bowler.

4 – He took four hat-tricks in International cricket with two each in Test cricket and ODI cricket. These are the joint-most number of hat-tricks for any player in International cricket. Lasith Malinga (1 in T20Is and 3 in ODIs) also has four hat-tricks across all three formats.

12 – Akram’s 12 sixes during his innings of 257* against Zimbabwe in 1996 are the most by any player in a Test inning. Only five other players have managed to hit 10 and more sixes in a Test inning.

25 – Wasim Akram took 25 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket which is the most for a Pakistan player thus far.

122 – His tally of 122 wickets in ODI format at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium is the most ODI wickets for any player at a single venue.

158 – Akram’s 158 wickets in the ODI cricket as captain are the most for any player. He bagged 265 wickets while leading Pakistan in International cricket which is the 2nd most behind Imran Khan (318).

257* –  His unbeaten 257-run knock against Zimbabwe in the 1996 Sheikupura Test is the highest individual score by any player batting at No.8 and a lower position in Test cricket.

502 – He was the first to complete 500 wickets in the ODI format. Only Muttiah Muralitharan (534) has surpassed him so far.

916 – Akram’s 916 wickets are the 5th most for any player in International cricket and the 2nd most among pacers behind Glenn McGrath’s 949 wickets.

3717 – His ODI career runs at 3717 are the 2nd most for any player without scoring a century. Misbah-ul-Haq scored 5122 runs in 162 ODIs without scoring a century.