Pakistan pace legend Wasim Akram has praised Imran Khan, calling him the greatest captain he ever played under. Akram credited Imran for shaping his career and guiding him as both a cricketer and a professional. The 1992 World Cup-winning skipper played a key role in instilling confidence and discipline in his players.
Imran Khan’s Influence on Akram’s Career
Reflecting on his early days, Akram admitted much of his development came under Imran’s leadership.
“I think whatever I did as a cricketer, off the field, on the field, credit goes to him. He used to give us a lot of confidence. He led from the front. He had a belief in his own ability. He was a hardworking cricketer,” Akram said on Stick to Cricket.
Hard Work Over Natural Talent
While many considered Imran Khan a naturally gifted cricketer, Akram stressed that his success was built on relentless hard work.
“People used to say I’m very naturally talented. Skipper wasn’t talented. He worked hard. Remember he changed his bowling action. From 76, exactly. Changing even a little bit of action can take months, it might not happen. But he did change his action. He was so determined,” Akram said.
Setting the Standard for the Team
Akram highlighted that Imran’s determination and willingness to reinvent himself set a benchmark for the entire squad.
“I mean he was the best captain I played under. He used to give confidence to every one of us,” Akram noted.
Imran’s Tough Love on the Field
Imran Khan was known for demanding full commitment from his players. Akram explained that the skipper could be tough when required.
“At times he used to shout at us because if you were lazy, fair enough. He was tough, but he was tough on the field. You give your 100%. If you don’t do well, he was okay with it,” he said.
However, Imran never tolerated players who tried to avoid responsibility in high-pressure moments.
“If you’re trying to save yourself and say okay, it’s a pressure situation, I’ll just take a back seat — he used to judge. He knew this particular player is just saving himself. So that used to annoy him a lot,” Akram revealed.
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