‘Do not believe in rumours’ – Wasim Akram looses his cool when asked about 1996 World Cup
Wasim Akram was asked why he did not play in the World Cup quarterfinal in 1996 against India. India defeated Pakistan in that crucial encounter by 39 runs. There have been many stories about why Wasim Akram did not play that game. When he was asked about the incident 26 years later, his anger knew no bounds.
Akram is one of the most respected and composed personalities off the field. But when he was quipped on this matter, he was seething in anger when he was asked about this on a local news channel. He was replaced by Ata-ur- Rehman who picked up 1-40 from his 10 overs and bowled well in that quarter-final game against India.
Akram said that it gives him a gut-wrenching feeling when Pakistanis bring this topic up and question him about this. Akram said on A Sports, “Let me cool you down. I have told many young people never to believe in rumours. At that time not many of you were even born. It is very shameful when a Pakistani asks me about this.”
I had gotten six painkiller injections: Wasim Akram
“I was injured three days ago. Against New Zealand, I scored 34 runs. I went to sweep Dion Nash, fine leg was up. I had a chest strain. It took six weeks to get it right. Waqar is sitting, we did not say this in the press so that India does not get the confidence that their main player is injured. Waqar also saw in the morning, everyone saw that I had gotten six pain killer injections, but it did not work out,” Akram added.
The former Pakistan great also revealed why they did not give out any information about his injury in the press conference as it was part of their strategy. “We did not update the press because India cannot gain confidence that the main players are not playing. In the morning, everyone saw that Dan Kiesel, the physician for the Pakistan team, injected me with six painkillers, but they did not work. If I had played that match with injury and could not bowl ten overs, they would have bashed me for not bowling complete overs, so where the rest of the players were selling peas if Wasim Akram was not available for the match against India?”
