I could get Misbah out in four balls: Wasim Akram

Legendary left-arm pacer Wasim Akram said he could have dismissed former Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq in just four balls, claims Islamabad United’s Strategy Manager Hassan Cheema.

While speaking to England pacer Steven Finn on Islamabad United’s YouTube channel on Thursday, Cheema recalled Akram making the aforementioned claim during one of Islamabad United’s training session at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Academy in Dubai.

“Why doesn’t Finn get him [Misbah] out every other ball? He is a four-ball batsman. I know how to get him out in four balls,” Wasim was quoted as saying by Cheema.

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Finn, who represented Islamabad United during the second and third edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL), was also left awestruck after he watched the legendary pacer swinging the ball at will in the same practice session.

“You remember he bowled in that training session as well. Everyone talks about the white ball not swinging these days. I watched him for about an hour. He was shining this ball perfectly and then swung pretty much every ball either way he wanted. So they do swing,” said Finn.

Akram, who turned 54 this week, is considered to be one of the greatest fast-bowlers in cricket history, after an illustrious career which included more than 900 international wickets.

The 54-year-old, who took 414 Test and 502 One-day International (ODI) wickets, also helped Pakistan win the 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. His bowling performance in the final, which included two wickets in two balls at a crucial stage of the match, played a key role in Pakistan’s path to victory.

He is also the only fast-bowler, in cricket history, with more than 400 wickets in Tests and ODIs.

The left-armer is the only bowler to have achieved four hat-tricks in international cricket, with two each in Tests and ODIs.