Picture Credit: X
While the Indian cricket team is waiting to resume their cricketing season with the Men’s Asia Cup 2025, set to be played in the UAE from September 9 to 28, the Pakistan side are currently playing Afghanistan and UAE in a tri-nation series in the middle-east. While the two arch-rivals are set to meet in the upcoming continental tournament, former Pakistan pacer and legend, Wasim Akram recently broke silence on his comparisons with star pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
It is to be noted that Wasim Akram is widely regarded as the finest pacers to ever play the game, Jasprit Bumrah’s recent performances for Team India across formats have proved him to be the greatest pacer of all-time. Speaking on Pakistan’s Geo TV show, Wasim Akram claimed that it is unfair to make such comparisons as times have changed.
Comparisons between the 90s and now is impossible: Wasim Akram on comparisons with Bumrah
Speaking on the show ‘Haarna Mana Hai’, Akram said, "Jasprit Bumrah is a wonderful bowler. He has an odd action, has pace, and credit to the Indian cricket board for the way they manage him and their mindset. Comparisons between the 90s and now is impossible. He is right-handed and I am a left-armer.” “We keep social media debates. Begani Shadi Me Abdulla Diwana. Nor I care nor he cares. They are fighting among themselves. He is a modern-day great. I was in my era. I did my job. He is a very impressive bowler, I must say," the former Pakistan pacer continued while taking a jibe at social media.
Watch Wasim Akram speak on his comparisons with Bumrah:
The 59-year-ol further went on to elaborate how cricket was at his time and how it has changed by leaps and bounds now. "There was no T20 cricket at that time. It is difficult to compare. At that time, batters used to leave bad balls in ODIs; now in Test cricket, players also attack. Bowlers are under double pressure. Hence, era to era cannot be compared. Jasprit has more chances of picking wickets as batters are playing shots. As a bowler, I will enjoy if batters are playing shots. In our time, batters used to defend all day," Akram added.
The Pakistan legend played 104 Tests in his career and took 414 wickets while also registering 502 ODIs wickets in 356 games. Bumrah, on the other hand, has played 48 Tests for India and has 219 scalps at a world record average of 19.82. The Indian pacer also has 149 and 82 wickets in ODIs and T20Is respectively.
