With 916 wickets, he’s the leading wicket-taking left arm bowler in international cricket and also holds the records for most no wickets for Pakistan in ODI’s (502) and Test Cricket (414).
He’s the first bowler in the history of the game to reach the 400-wicket milestone in both Tests and ODIs. Still, only two bowlers were able to achieve the milestone.
With his unbeaten score of 257 against Zimbabwe in 1996, he holds the world record for the highest Test innings by a No. 8 batsman. It was also during this game that he achieved another world record by hitting the most number of sixes (12) in a test inning, which still remains unbroken.
He’s also the first bowler to pick up four international hat-tricks. One other record that remains under his name is the most number of ODI wickets (158) as a captain. He formed one of the most formidable fast bowling partnerships in the history of the game with his partner, Waqar Younis.
The duo was so different from all other fast bowling combinations due to their speed, swing, and, most importantly, late reverse swing. One being a right-arm pacer while the other was a lefty doesn’t help the batsman’s cause at all.
When I say he’s the best left-arm fast bowler in the history of the game, not many would disagree. Here’s wishing a very happy birthday to “Sultan of Swing” Wasim Akram. The 1992 World Cup final man of the match is turning 58 today.
