Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram is considered to be one of the great fast bowlers the world has ever seen. The left-handed fast bowler had a long career, having made his debut in 1985 and retiring from the game in 2003. 

He was the first bowler to take 500 wickets in ODIs and at that time the only one with over 400 wickets in both the formats. When asked about the toughest batsman he has ever bowled to during his playing days, the 53-year-old named a player which shocked many.

AUS v PAK 2019: Wasim Akram gifts Brett Lee a special cricket ball at Adelaide

As many expected Akram to name either of Brian Lara or Sachin Tendulkar, they were all shocked as the left-arm pacer said it was late great Martin Crowe, New Zealand legend.

“Very difficult question to answer. But, I have to pick one guy it has to be Martin Crowe. The reason was he got runs against us. He was always on the front foot. As a bowler, we were left frustrated and then we used to bowl short. That's what he wanted us to do. Nobody knew what reverse swing was back then. That's why I will say,” Akram told Fox Cricket during a panel discussion.

Here is the video of the discussion:

.@wasimakramlive on who are the best batsmen he's bowled to. pic.twitter.com/OcGrsG7jB4

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 3, 2019

Martin Crowe, who lost his battle with cancer in March 2016, played 77 Tests scoring 5444 runs with 17 centuries and a best score of 299 and 143 ODIs with 4704 runs with 4 centuries to his name, in a career lasting from 1982-1995. 

He was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in February of 2015.