Wasim Akram Responds to ‘Bumrah vs Akram’ Debate: Era Comparison Is Unfair
1. ‘Begani Shadi Me Abdulla Diwana’: Akram’s Take on social media Debates
- During his appearance on GEOTV’s ‘Haarna Mana Hai’ show, Akram used a popular urdu saying:
- Loosely translated, it means “Why get involved in someone else’s affair?”, highlighting that neither he nor bumrah is concerned with social media debates comparing them.
- Akram emphadata-sized that fans and pundits are often the ones caught up in these comparisons, not the players themselves.
2. bumrah is a Modern-Day Great
- Akram hailed jasprit bumrah as a wonderful bowler, noting his unique action and remarkable pace.
- He praised the Indian team management for effectively handling Bumrah’s workload, ensuring he remains fit and impactful across all three formats.
- “He is a modern-day great. I did my job in my era, and he is doing his in the current era,” Akram added.
3. Era Differences Make Comparisons Impossible
- According to Akram, comparing his 1990s era with today’s cricket is unfair:
- He was a left-arm bowler, while bumrah is right-handed.
- T20 cricket didn’t exist in his time, which significantly changes how batsmen approach innings and how bowlers strategize.
- Akram emphadata-sized that today’s bowlers operate under double pressure, with aggressive batting in Tests, ODIs, and T20s, unlike his era where batters often defended for long periods.
4. The Advantage of Aggressive Batting
- Akram explained that the modern batsmen’s aggressive style creates more wicket-taking opportunities:
- This insight highlights how changing formats and strategies in cricket have altered both bowler and batsman dynamics over the years.
5. Career Stats: Akram vs Bumrah
- Wasim Akram’s career:
- 104 Tests: 414 wickets
- 356 ODIs: 502 wickets
- Jasprit bumrah so far:
- 48 Tests: 219 wickets at an astonishing average of 19.82
- ODIs: 149 wickets
- T20Is: 82 wickets
- While Akram dominated in a different era with less aggressive batting and no t20 format, bumrah has made his mark in modern cricket, where batsmen consistently attack.
6. t20 Revolution Changes the Game
- Akram reiterated that T20 cricket has fundamentally changed bowling strategies and statistics.
- Bowlers today have to balance aggression with economy, dealing with relentless attacking batsmen in all formats.
- Comparisons with the past, therefore, do not capture the full picture of skill, strategy, and physical demands.
7. Akram’s Closing Thoughts
- Akram concluded by reminding fans to appreciate both eras separately:
- The cricket legend’s words highlight respect across generations, encouraging fans to celebrate cricketing excellence rather than compare players unfairly.