Legendary Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram talked about his relationship with ex-India all-rounder Irfan Pathan. He highlighted how, despite learning the intricacies of pace bowling from him, the Indian player keeps posting on X against Pakistan.
Wasim Akram had an amazing career for Pakistan. He took 414 wickets and scored 2898 runs in 104 Tests from 1984 to 2003. He also played 356 ODIs, taking 502 wickets and scoring 3717 runs. He has 3 Test centuries and 13 fifties in international cricket.
After his playing days ended, Wasim Akram became a known media personality and bowling coach, even serving in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Kolkata Knight Riders. Many young pacers have been mentored by Wasim Akram, who is considered to be the best left-arm pacer ever.
One of those young players who sought help from Wasim Akram was Irfan Pathan of India. Pathan broke onto the scene during India’s tour of Australia in 2003-04 and impressed everyone with his pace and swing.
Irfan Pathan's ascent offered India their own Wasim Akram, since Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra were already well-established. He was fast, had a similar motion, and—most importantly—had the ability to reverse the ball.
Pathan had consulted Akram during his playing days for tips and had a fulfilling career for India, winning the Player of the Match in the 2007 T20 World Cup final. However, injuries and form issues ended his career in 2012, and Pathan ended his international career in 2020.
Wasim Akram recalled the first time he spoke with Irfan Pathan and gave him some advice, saying that the former India all-rounder is active on X (previously Twitter) and expresses himself clearly, particularly when it comes to Pakistan.
“Irfan met me in 2004 on his first tour to Australia; I was commenting for ESPNStar. He was a big fan. Grew up watching us. I gave him a few tips here and there, but he did well early on in his career. His action was similar to mine from the very beginning. But when players ask you about something, what you tell them is mostly about the mindset. Action and all are fine, because at that stage, you have reached that level where you’re representing the country.
Things like wrist position and how to suss out a batsman. When to use variations and when not to. So yeah, it was good fun. Irfan is a good boy; he still keeps meeting me. It’s a different thing that he keeps tweeting some or the other thing against Pakistan. But our fans are ready too. They don’t have the tendency to ignore either. They just have to reply,” Akram said on the 1 Mint podcast.
Pathan loved bowling against Pakistan, with 67 wickets in 36 internationals (27 Tests, 34 ODIs, and 6 T20Is). Pathan also scored a hat-trick against Pakistan in Karachi in 2006, dismissing Salman Butt, Younis Khan, and Mohammad Yousuf in the opening over.
Besides, his tweets—"Sunday kaisa raha, padosiyo?"—Whenever India defeated Pakistan, be it in the Asia Cup, last year’s Champions Trophy, or the 2024 T20 World Cup before that, have often been received with a pinch of salt across the border.
Wasim Akram also talked about the hype of the India v Pakistan cricket game and reminded everyone once again that at the end of the day, it’s only a cricket match.
“People have too much time. Why can’t they understand? It’s only a fucking game. At the end of the day, it’s just a match. Somebody has to win; somebody has to lose. And move on to the next one. But no, what happened many moons ago still lingers. Revenge and all is so 1970. It’s the classic ‘an empty mind is a devil’s workshop ' thought process,” he said.
