Pakistan’s legendary left-arm fast bowler Wasim Akram has singled out up-and-coming pacer Naseem Shah as a bowler he would have liked to have bowled with.
Talking to cricket fans on Pakistan Cricket Board’s social media channels on Sunday, Akram was asked which Pakistan bowlers he would have liked to have played alongside.
Akram has already featured alongside some of the greatest fast bowlers in history, like Imran Khan and Waqar Younis. The left-arm swing great said he would have loved to bowl with other great pacers such as Sarfaraz Nawaz – who is known as the father of reverse swing bowling – and Fazal Mahmood – the first great fast bowler of Pakistan right after independence in 1947.
“I was asked which bowler I would have liked to pair up with. Obviously, I have bowled with some of our finest fast bowlers like Imran Khan, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq,” Akram said in the video.
“But if I go back, the two bowlers I would have liked to bowl with are Sarfaraz Nawaz, the bowler who invented reverse swing. And Fazal Mahmood. Me being a left-arm pacer, I would have liked to pair up with Mahmood because his leg-cutter was famous.”
When it comes to the current crop of pace bowlers, Akram said teenage quick Naseem Shah excites him the most. Shah has enjoyed a stellar start to his Test career at the age of just 16, impressing during the tour of Australia with his pace and swing.
“Among the next generation of pacers, I would pick a right-arm quick and it’s got to be Naseem Shah. He is a kid, already bowling at 150 (kph) plus. And he will become faster.”
Responding to the vote of confidence, Shah said it was an honour to be named by Akram as bowling partner.
