Former Pakistan captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has named his top five cricketers from his playing days, identifying Sir Vivian Richards as the most difficult batsman he ever bowled to. Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast alongside several English cricket legends, Akram reflected on his 17-year career.
When asked to name the best batsman he faced, the 59-year-old picked the West Indies icon. “For me, it has to be Sir Vivian Richards. It’s not just about his batting—it was the whole package, the charisma he carried with him,” Akram said. He noted that he also faced other greats like Allan Border, Graham Gooch, Sachin Tendulkar, and Brian Lara, but for him, Sir Viv was in a class of his own.
The legendary left-arm pacer then listed the five best cricketers he played against during his career. His list included: Imran Khan, for his monumental contributions to Pakistan cricket; Viv Richards; Martin Crowe; Brian Lara; and Sachin Tendulkar.
Akram also revealed that in ODIs, Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist was particularly challenging. “I very rarely played against the great Ricky Ponting, but in ODIs, Adam Gilchrist was one who really troubled me,” he admitted.
