There was a time when former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram used to be part of the coaching staff in the Kolkata franchise. From 2008 to 2016, Akram used to be the bowling coach of the team. He was part of the team when they won the titles in seasons 2012 and 2014. The former Pakistan skipper developed and groomed India pacer Mohammed Shami while he was in the squad as well.
However, in 2016, when the political relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated, he and his several other former teammates working in different capacities in the cash-rich league were banned. Since then, the presence of yesteryear Pakistani legends became a thing of the past.
Meanwhile, in a conversation with VUSport, Akram revealed explained how the Kolkata-based franchise’s co-owner and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan helped the team in one of the seasons of the biggest T20 League. The all-time second-highest wicket-taker in ODIs said that he saw the players being tired and felt that the team needed a private jet to travel to another city. The 55-year-old revealed that the Bollywood actor arranged a private jet within an hour.
Watch the video here
Wasim Akram on how srk on his request arranged pvt jet for kkr in 2012 pic.twitter.com/wP9UfyzbRE
— Slayer (@Cricnerd36) May 24, 2022
The video is going viral on social media. Currently, the 356-ODI veteran is the President of the Karachi Kings franchise in the Pakistan Super League. Apart from this, he has been working as a commentator and expert in various broadcasting TV channels. Talking about the Akram’s career, he has played 104 Tests and picked 414 wickets and has 2898 runs to his name.
His best bowling and best score in the longest format are 110/11 and 257* respectively. In the 50-over format, the left-armer has picked 502 wickets and 3717 runs to his name. His best figures and best score in the format are 15/2 and 86 respectively. In First-Class Cricket, he has 1042 wickets to his name. He is one of the first yesteryear players to have played the T20 format in 2003. At that time, he played for Hampshire in County Cricket. Before this, he played for Lancashire County as well.