Wasim Akram opened up on comparisons with Jasprit Bumrah after the Indian star made a strong case of being the greatest pacer of all time following his impressive performances for Team India across all three formats of the game in recent times.
Akram, who is widely regarded of the finest pace bowlers to ever play the game, claimed that it was unfair to compare eras. The Pakistan cricket legend stated that neither he nor Bumrah cares about the comparisons. However, the cricket-turned-commentator hailed the Indian team management for the manner in which they have managed the star pacer’s workload.
“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,” said Akram on GEOTV’s ‘Haarna Mana Hai’ Show.
However, Akram claimed that it is unfair to compare current bowlers with those of his time, as T20 cricket has changed the landscape of the sport.
“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.
Akram played 104 Tests in his career and took 414 wickets while also registering 502 ODIS wickets in 356 games. Bumrah has played 48 Tests for India and has 219 scalps at a world record average of 19.82. Meawhile, he also has 149 and 82 wickets in ODIs and T20Is.