Wasim Akram: “A magician, absolutely. A leg spinner and a trailblazer of his time. You will be missed Abdul Qadir but never forgotten”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Legendary Pakistan left-arm seamer Wasim Akram paid tribute to leg-spinner Abdul Qadir after he passed away at the age of 63.

Qadir died as a result of a cardiac arrest, his family confirmed.

Reminiscing about Qadir, who was one of the best spinners Pakistan ever produced, Akram called him a “magician” and “trailblazer”.

They called him the magician for many reasons but when he looked me in the eyes & told me I was going to play for Pakistan for the next 20 years, I believed him.A Magician, absolutely. A leg spinner & a trailblazer of his time. You will be missed Abdul Qadir but never forgotten

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) September 6, 2019

“They called him the magician for many reasons but when he looked me in the eyes and told me I was going to play for Pakistan for the next 20 years, I believed him. A magician, absolutely. A leg spinner and a trailblazer of his time. You will be missed Abdul Qadir but never forgotten,” Akram said on Twitter.

Qadir represented Pakistan in 67 Tests, where he took 236 wickets, which included 15 five-wicket hauls, at an average of 32.80.

He also featured in 104 ODIs, where he claimed 132 wickets, which included two five-wicket hauls, at an average of 26.16.