Mohammad Akram was a tall, right-arm fast-medium bowler who hit the pitch hard and was a handful on a wicket with bounce. He had an awkward, rigid approach to the crease but was one of the more consistent Pakistan bowlers before he chose a life in England. He was not a big swinger, relying more on seam movement. Akram found it difficult to secure a regular Test place thanks to the enduring talents of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis plus the emergence of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami. But he was a useful man to have as back-up, even though his batting and fielding are best forgotten. He had a brief sojourn in England playing for Northants in 1995 as replacement for Curtly Amrbrose, who was on tour with West Indies. After marrying an Anglo-Pakistani from Walthamstow, he settled in England, and turned out for Essex and Sussex in 2003 and 2004 respectively, as a non-overseas player, before signing a three-year contract with Surrey and professing a desire to play for his adopted country. In August 2012 he was appointed Pakistan's bowling coach.
Kamran Abbasi