I would have killed Wasim Akram if he had approached me for match-fixing: Akhtar

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar made a startling claim, during a local television show, while describing the greatness of the Men in Green’s legendary pacer Wasim Akram.

Akhtar, who holds the record for bowling the fastest delivery in the history of cricket, said that he would have taken Akram’s life if the latter made an approach regarding match-fixing.

“I was watching few matches of the 1990s and I was amazed to see how Wasim Akram got Pakistan through impossible situations with his brilliant bowling,” said Akhtar. “I will say it very clearly that if Wasim Akram had asked me to do match-fixing, I would have destroyed him or even kill him. But he never said such a thing to me.”

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The former right-arm quick also thanked Akram for supporting him, during the early days of his cricketing career.

“I played with him for seven to eight years and I can quote many instances where he gave me cover by taking the responsibility of picking up the top-order wickets while leaving the tailenders for me,” he said. “He even let me bowl from my preferred bowling even though he had a lot more wickets that I did.”

“After watching these old matches, I called him and apologised to for not truly appreciating his greatness while playing with him,” he added. 

The 44-year-old, Akhtar, featured in 46 Tests and 163 ODIs for Pakistan, in which he bagged 178 and 247 wickets respectively. He also took 19 T20I wickets in 15 appearances.

Akhtar played his last international game, an ODI, against New Zealand in 2011, in which he claimed one wicket.