Shoaib Akhtar claims he would have 'killed' Wasim Akram had he asked him to fix matches

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar recently praised his former captain and teammate Wasim Akram for supporting him during his early years in international cricket. As quoted by Cricket Pakistan on a television show, Akhtar recalled his playing days with Wasim Akram and how veteran bowler exposed opposition’s tail-ender batsmen for ‘Rawalpindi Express’. Shoaib Akhtar also lauded Akram for his many “brilliant bowling” spells for Pakistan.

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Shoaib Akhtar makes a startling claim about Wasim Akram and match-fixing

In interview, Shoaib Akhtar claimed that he would have 'killed' Wasim Akram if latter had approached him to do match-fixing. Akhtar confirmed that Wasim Akram never said “such a thing” to him. Shoaib Akhtar added that ‘Sultan of Swing’ often let him bowl from his preferred end even though he was less experienced than his captain.

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Incidentally, Shoaib Akhtar’s “violent” take towards match-fixing comes two days after former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq requested Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to give a second chance to Saleem Malik to do something for Pakistan cricket. On April 18, Inzamam-ul-Haq took to his YouTube channel and described Saleem Malik as one of greatest Pakistani batsmen ever and compared him to likes of Mohammad Yousuf and Babar Azam. Inzamam-ul-Haq was of opinion that an experienced campaigner like Malik can use his kwledge to coach young generation of Pakistan cricket. Saleem Malik is a former Pakistani batsman who was banned for match-fixing in 2000 before ban was lifted in 2008 by a Lahore-based local court.

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Shoaib Akhtar and Wasim Akram: Careers at a glance

Both Shoaib Akhtar and Wasim Akram was widely considered among greatest Pakistani pacers of all time. Wasim Akram, in general, holds an impeccable bowling record and is one of only two bowlers in ODI history to take more than 500 wickets (502 wickets) in format. He also has 414 Test wickets from 104 matches. On or hand, Shoaib Akhtar once clocked 100.2 mph (161.3 kmph) at 2003 World Cup and is credited for bowling fastest-ever delivery to be recorded in international cricket

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