Wasim Akram Names 5 Legends Who Troubled Him Most In Cricket
Wasim Akram reveals the toughest batter he bowled to and names his top five cricketers of all time, including Viv Richards, Imran Khan, Brian Lara, and Sachin Tendulkar.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has revealed the five greatest cricketers he played against during his illustrious career, while also picking Sir Vivian Richards as the toughest batter he ever bowled to.
Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast with Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook, David Lloyd, and Phil Tufnell, Akram opened up on the highlights of his 17-year international journey.
When asked about the best batter he faced, the 59-year-old legend had no hesitation.
“For me, it has to be Sir Vivian Richards. It’s not just about his batting—it was the whole package, the charisma he carried with him,” Akram said.
The left-arm quick also named Allan Border, Graham Gooch, Sachin Tendulkar, and Brian Lara as other iconic batters he tested himself against, but Richards stood out.
“Sir Viv was at the end of his career in 1987–88, but what a character he was, everyone’s hero,” Akram recalled.
Akram then revealed his top five cricketers of his era:
- Imran Khan
- Sir Vivian Richards
- Martin Crowe
- Brian Lara
- Sachin Tendulkar
The former pacer also recalled how certain players posed unique challenges. “I very rarely played against Ricky Ponting, but in ODIs Adam Gilchrist really troubled me,” he admitted.
Asked about the best cricketing countries, Akram chose England and Australia.
“England is special because of its history, facilities, and knowledge of the game. Australia too, because if you perform there, you get recognised straight away,” he said, recalling Imran Khan’s advice before his first Australian tour in 1989.
For Akram, who ended with over 900 international wickets, those battles and memories remain etched as much as the players he admired most.
