IND vs SL: Wasim Akram Snubs Shaheen Shah Afridi And Haris Rauf As He Names The Bowlers Who He Reckons Is Even Better Than Him

Former Pakistan captains Wasim Akram and Misbah-ul-Haq have heaped praise on India pacer Jasprit Bumrah after his sensational performance against England in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

In conditions where even the best fast bowlers struggle to do well, the India pace spearhead has looked a class apart. No fast bowler has taken more wickets than him in the World Cup. He is currently the second-highest wicket-taker in the World Cup behind Australia spinner Adam Zampa.

The right-arm pacer has picked up 14 wickets in 6 games so far. What makes his performance even more remarkable is his unbelievable economy rate. In a tournament where batsmen have scored runs for fun, he has managed to maintain an economy rate of less than 4. India spinner Ravindra Jadeja is the only bowler who has played more than one match and has an economy rate of less than 4.

Wasim Akram, Misbah-ul-Haq heap praise on Jasprit Bumrah:

Jasprit Bumrah was in his element on Sunday (October 29) too when India locked horns against England in Lucknow. After India managed a modest total of 229 for 9 in 50 overs, they needed a good start with the ball and their pace spearhead rose to the occasion once again.

He troubled England’s batters right from the start and put India on top by dismissing Dawid Malan and Joe Root on successive deliveries in the fifth over. England just could not recover from those early setbacks and were eventually bowled out for 129 runs. Jasprit Bumrah finished with figures of 3 for 32. Impressed with his display against England, Wasim Akram and Misbah-ul-Haq heaped praise on him.

“Bumrah ne gumrah kar diya..kya ball seam ho raha hein..beautiful. Around the wicket, unplayable to the left handers. The length…That’s how you create pressure,” Akram said in a discussion on A Sports.

“From the first over itself, he’s [Jasprit Bumrah] bowling inswings and a couple of outswings. His length and seam positions are impeccable. Yorkers at will…He is the best in the world right now. Top of the ladder, the way he is performing, the control, pace, the variations, he is just a complete bowler. Treat to watch,” Akram said.

On the other hand, Misbah said: “He is swinging with the new ball. You (Akram) used to practise by taping the ball to swing. Where is he getting swing from the new ball?

Akram then hailed the India star as a complete bowler, saying: “On such pitch, in such conditions, to bowl outswingers…To Bairstow, he bowled two outswingers and the next two deliveries were inswingers, it went through the gap and the keeper caught it above shoulder. Pace, carry, follow through, you named it. Everything. Complete bowler, mentally and physically.”

To which Misbah said: “To bowl an outswinger to a left-hander from that angle, that is very very difficult.

“When Bumrah bowls to left-handers around the wicket, he bowls similar to my outswingers to right-handers. But Bumrah has better control than me with the new ball,” Akram said with a smile.

“His length and line are so accurate, batters have no clue how to play them,” Misbah added.

Akram then came up with a hilarious suggestion to stop Bumrah, saying: “The kind of length he bowls with the new ball, it creates uncertainty for the batters. Only remedy for Bumrah is to put pressure on him. Uski boot chori kar lo, bowling na kar paye.”

"He's a complete bowler" legendary pacer @wasimakramlive terms #JaspritBumrah "best in the world".#ASportsHD #ARYZAP #CWC23 #ThePavilion #ShoaibMalik #MoinKhan #FakhreAlam #MisbahulHaq #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/RdahGjmL6Z

— ASports (@asportstvpk) October 29, 2023