Happy Birthday, Wasim Akram: 5 facts about the 'Sultan of Swing' you might be unaware of

Former Pakistani seamer Wasim Akram was an instant and constant hit for his nation and the side he played for. Known for his lethal ability to swing the ball both ways, he gained tremendous recognition in world cricket. He was dubbed as one of the greatest seamers of all time, earning his name alongside the like of legendary Australian Glenn McGrath. Having earned his place in the history and record books, he was also immortalised by being inducted into the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, having retired a decade ago, he celebrates his 56th birthday on Friday. In the same light, we look at his five facts you might be unaware of.

Unsure that he was paid
When Akram was gearing up for his first overseas tour, which happened to be of New Zealand, he asked skipper Javed Miandad about how much money he should carry. Little he was aware that he was getting paid by the Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan (BCCP), now Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He was informed of the same by his skipper.

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Young-age diabetic
Hardly did Akram know that he would be diagnosed with a health condition at the prime of his career. At the age of 30, he was diagnosed with diabetes. Despite this condition, he added six years more to his international career, not letting it affect his performance and continued to dominate on the world stage.

Father kidnapped
In a personal tragedy, it was in the late 1990s that Akram's father for a day, especially when match-fixing allegations rocked Pakistan cricket. "My brother called to say my father had suffered a heart attack, and the reason behind it was that he had been kidnapped for a day. Those people who kidnapped him thought that a match was fixed, even though someone else was captaining the side at the time. They held him captive for a day, and they were hitting him all over for a day, and he is 65 years old," he had told Daily Mirror.

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Escaping unhurt in an attack
In a horrific personal incident Akram encountered, he was attacked by some unidentified men at Kasraz Road, near the National Stadium in Karachi. He escaped unhurt and reported the matter to the police by registering a complaint, while he thanked his fans for their support on Twitter following the incident.

Losing his first wife
Akram married a sports psychologist, Huma, in 1995. However, she was struggling with severe health issues in 2009 and was being transported from Lahore to Singapore for better medical treatment. Yet, her condition deteriorated en route to Singapore. At the same time, her flight made an emergency landing in Chennai, upon which she was admitted to the city's Apollo Hospital, where she breathed her last and passed away due to multiple organ failures.