Pakistan's legendary pacer Wasim Akram called Pakistani World Cup winning captain Imran Khan as his all-time favorite. Imran has helped Akram shape up his career, after spotting the left-arm pacer and later groomed him under his captaincy.

Akram who played 104 Tests and 356 ODIs said he had posters of his idol like Imran, Javed Miandad, Asif Iqbal, and Zaheer Abbas.

Speaking to Hashtag Network, the 52-year-old said he used to watch these players practice at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The former pacer said Khan believed in hard work and if someone pretended he would easily catch them. “Imran used to believe that if you work hard, you will succeed."

Akram talked about the change of cricket with time. He believes these days the cricketers find it difficult when the stadium is empty. The case wasn't the same during their time when even the hotel lobby was filled with fans.
 
“For last six, seven, eight years, I feel for the youngsters. They play in empty stadiums today. When we used to play, the hotel lobby used to packed. People were on the streets when we traveled. The ground used to packed. Crowds remained even after the match got ever. Wherever you went, everything was packed.

Everybody is waving because it is their own team. Our boys play in front of empty stands and it becomes very difficult to motivate yourself. Even those who aspire to play for Pakistan, they do not get to see their heroes in front of them,” Akram said.