Wasim Akram: “I have seen Imran Khan in his prime as a cricketer, not off the field as a playboy. He was a proper, proper all-rounder”
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Pakistan pace icon Wasim Akram has lavished praise on legendary captain Imran Khan, calling him a “proper, proper all-rounder”.
Imran is widely believed to be the best all-rounder the country has ever produced and is also renowned for leading Pakistan to World Cup glory in 1992.
The 72-year-old, who served as Pakistan’s Prime Minister, played in 88 Tests and accumulated 3,807 runs, which included six hundreds and 18 half-centuries, at an average of 37.69.
He also took 362 wickets at an average of 22.81.
As for his ODI career, the Lahore native scored 3,709 runs in 175 matches, which included a century and 19 fifties, at an average of 33.41.
Bowling-wise, he claimed 182 wickets at an average of 26.61.
“I have seen Imran Khan in his prime as a cricketer, not off the field as a playboy. He was a proper, proper all-rounder,” Wasim was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Pakistan team recently toured Australia and won the ODI series 2-1 before getting whitewashed 3-0 in the T20Is.
Following this, they travelled to Zimbabwe and triumphed 2-1 in both the ODI and T20I series.
Pakistan are now taking on South Africa and lost the T20I series 2-0.
As for the ongoing ODI series, the men in green hold a 1-0 lead going into the 2nd ODI on December 19 in Cape Town.
After the ODIs finish, Pakistan and South Africa will play a two-Test series, which gets underway on December 26 in Centurion.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha
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