Why they rank here
Wasim Akram is regarded as the finest left-arm fast bowler in history and the master of swing, conventional and reverse. He took 414 Test wickets and 502 in ODIs, the second bowler to reach 500 one-day wickets, generating late, sharp movement from an explosive, whippy action. His two swinging deliveries in the space of three balls to dismiss Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis effectively won Pakistan the 1992 World Cup final. Akram could bowl the unplayable ball with either an old or new ball, and his reverse-swinging yorkers at the death set the template for a generation of quicks. A dangerous lower-order hitter who once made 257 not out in a Test, he was a genuine all-round talent. For skill, variety, and match-winning impact across formats, he stands at the peak of pace bowling.
Career profile
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