Legendary batsman Brian Lara celebrated his 51st birthday on Saturday and on this special occasion, cricket fraternity, including former Pakistan legend Wasim Akram, extended warm wishes to the cricket great.

Akram took to Twitter, to wish Lara and rated the Trinidadian as the best batsman he ever bowled to.

"He was the best I played against... greatest batsman of my era who could tear apart any bowler in the world on any day...I cherish the duels I had with him.  Above everything, he is an amazing human being... Happy Birthday Brian Charles Lara," Akram tweeted.

The left-handed batsman Lara scored 11,953 runs with the help of 34 centuries and 48 half-centuries in Test cricket. In One-day Internationals (ODIs), he accumulated over 10,000 runs in 299 matches, smacking 19 centuries during his 17-year long career.

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Lara holds the records for the highest first-class innings score (501*) as well as the highest Test innings score (400*).

Wishes also poured in from around the world as other cricketers also paid tribute to the legend.