In cricketing anecdotes, former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram recently opened up about a captivating incident involving the legendary batter Vivian Richards. This incident, unfolding during the 3rd Test in Barbados in 1988, offers a glimpse into the fiery exchanges and resilience that characterized the cricketing era.
Known for his aggressive style of play, Wasim Akram, in an attempt to make an impact, bowled a threatening short ball to Vivian Richards in the last over of the day. The delivery, aimed at the batting maestro, resulted in Richards ducking, causing his cap to fall off.
What followed was a moment etched in cricketing history. After the delivery, Akram, in the heat of the moment, resorted to using strong language directed at Vivian Richards. However, the response from the West Indies icon was unexpected.
Contrary to the anticipated exchange of words, Vivian Richards sternly warned Akram against such behaviour. Richards, known for his fierce on-field demeanour, conveyed a clear message to Akram, urging him not to altercate verbally.
Feeling the weight of the situation, Wasim Akram, recognizing the potential repercussions, sought refuge in his captain, Imran Khan. Akram shared the incident with Imran Khan, who provided an unexpected directive rather than admonishing him.
Imran Khan’s response was unconventional yet effective. Instead of reprimanding Akram, Imran Khan encouraged him to bowl another short ball to Vivian Richards. The captain’s confidence in the young bowler would prove pivotal in the ensuing events.
Following Imran Khan’s advice, Akram delivered another bouncer to Richards. In a stroke of luck, the ball found its way to the stumps, dismissing the formidable batsman. Revelling at the moment, Akram humorously danced before the dismissed Richards.
Akram elaborated (as quoted by Indian Express): “You realize as a bowler that you’ve got some pace. So I bowled the bouncer, and his cap fell off. Big deal! Back then, I only knew two bad words. I said them both to Richards. He said, ‘Don’t swear at me. I’ll kill you!’ I thought it was a figure of speech! I went to Imran Khan at mid-on and told him that Viv was threatening to kill me. He said, ‘Don’t worry. I’m with you.’ He asked me to bowl another bouncer at him. I did. On the last ball of the over, I got an inside edge off him, and the ball hit the stumps. I danced in front of Richards.”
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The story takes an intriguing turn as Vivian Richards visits Wasim Akram outside the dressing room after the day’s play. Richards, donned like a ‘don’ and still in his cricket gear, created a moment of suspense.
Perceiving the situation as potentially aggressive, Akram rushed to Imran Khan, expressing his concern about Richards waiting outside. Imran Khan, once again, surprised Akram by urging him to confront the situation head-on.
He explained: “I was a young kid, barely 20. After the day ended, I was taking off my shoes in the dressing room when the attendant told me someone wanted to see me outside. So, with one shoe on, I got up and looked outside. I saw Viv standing without his shirt, a bat in his hand, and his pads still on. I got scared; I thought he would kill me. I ran to Imran and told him Viv was outside and wanted to fight. “Imran just said, ‘Go, fight! This is your fight.”
Wasim Akram was one of the finest bowlers to have played the game. The fast bowler picked 414 wickets in 104 Tests and bagged 502 scalps in 356 ODI games.
