KARACHI, March 15 (AFP) - Former cricket star-turned politician Imran Khan Monday heaped praise on Pakistani captain Wasim Akram and predicted the ``great bowler'' would break the record for the number of wickets in Test cricket.
Congratulating Wasim on his hat-trick against SriLanka in the final of the Asian Test championship in Dhaka on Sunday, Khan said he always knew Wasim would become one of the all-time greats.
``He is a great bowler and a born cricketer. And I believe he will break the world record in Test cricket. He has just to keep himself fit,'' Khan told AFP.
``I predicted in 1985 that this boy will be a great bowler. He has an amazing talent.''
Wasim also achieved a hat-trick against Sri Lanka in last week's Test match in Lahore, and his feat in Dhaka made him the first bowler ever to take two hat-tricks in Test matches.
Wasim has taken 378 Test wickets and is vying with West Indian Courtney Walsh, who has 404 wickets, to break Indian Kapil Dev's record of 434.
Khan said Wasim was ``wrongly removed'' from the captaincy in the past amid charges of match fixing and bribery.
The 32-year-old Wasim was re-appointed captain in January. He drew the two match series 1-1 against India and aims to lead the team to victory in the coming World Cup starting in May in England.
Khan, who won the 1992 World Cup for Pakistan, said ``they (Pakistan) have less chances than they had in 1996 due to English conditions, but I think they have the potential to beat anyone.'' |
