Combining test and one day Cricket Wasim was arguably the best of all paceman.However one factor exists that Wasim captured a great number of wickets of tail enders while Curtly Ambrose or Glen Mcgrath were more successful against the top order batsman or the prize wickets.Ambrose was a champion in winning games in the 4th innings after defending small targets while Mcgrath's consistency was phenomenal.Overall Lillee,Marshall and Imran posessed more match-winning agression tah Wasim.

I would rate Wasim Akram as the best of all Pakistan bowlers as he was outstanding in at trio of great paceman and was better than what Imran was in the first and final part of his career.Waqar Younus was quicker ,with abetter strike rtaebut did not posess Wasim's trajectory.If he had the same support from his fielders as Glen Mcgrath did Wasim would have performed even better.

What is amazing is that Wasim was the best one day bowler of his era inspite of the fact that Ambrose was the most accurate and Mcgrath posessed the greatest control.It gives credibility to the one day game proving the need for innovation or inventiveness even in that form of the game.No bowler was as inventive or innovative as Wasim who resembled a musical composer.

Above all he mastered the placid sub-continent tracks where he took half his wickets.Where Ambrose or Mcgrath have the edge is their economy rate.Mcgrath was greatly helped by a strong Australian team,while Wasim was let down to some extent by his team -mates.

Strangely Wasim's best figures are 7-119 and that is the only time he has captured 7 or more wickets unlike Imran Khan who took 7 or more wicket hauls 5 times .He was not as much as a match-winner as Ambrose or predecessor Imran Khan.In the pantheon of greats overall he may be just below Lillee,Marshall,Hadlee and Mcgrath,just edging Imran.

Wasim Akram is the most naturally talented paceman ever and the closest to the pace bowling genius.No paceman ever posessed a greater bowling repertoire or could do as much with a cricket ball as Wasim.He was simply a magician who could manipulate a cricket ball,like nobody else.He mastered reverse swinging a ball both ways in one delivery itself.

On figures Lillee,Hadlee,Mcgrath,Imran and Marshall were ahead.His figures never did justice to his skill or artistry.To me he lacked the aggression of Dennis Lillee and Malcolm Marshall .Glen Mcgrath and Curtly Ambrose were more accurate or Alan Donlad and Waqar Younus quicker but none had Wasim's variations or craft.

I would select Wasim in my alltime 11with his variation as a left-armer.

@Zsam. Was Donald a better bowler than Steyn? Did Tendulkar boost his average against Steuyn and it was easy? If Wasim is so good would tendulkar fared worse in 70's and 80's? Pitches in my opinion were the fastest in 90's. Watch youtube videos and how pitches in 70's, even likes of Gabba and MCG looked like dub continental pitches in a lots of games. I too cannot stand over hyping of past. But pat is long and not just the 90's.

Wasim is without a shred of doubt most complete, intimidating and difficult fast bowler. He had killing yorker, dangerous bouncer, ability to generate awkward bounce, ability to make the bowl swing both way, equally effective with new and old ball, could destroy opposition on all type of surfaces and conditions. He is slightly under achiever in tests but never forget that in the initial part of his career, he bowled with Imran and later on with Waqar and Shoaib. He had immense variety and was exceedingly difficult to get away. I have seen him dominating all the batsmen who faced him. Most batsman of 90 and 00s have rated him as the most feared and difficult bowler of their era. Among the all time greats, he is surely among the very best with the likes of Imran, Lillee, Waqar, Marshal, Ambrose and Steyn etc.

@Jayesh, Sachin and Lara vs 90s attacks, Pakistan attack, with 2 Ws and Imran, both avg. in early 30s,Sachin 32 in 11 inngs, he batted, and Lara avg 30 in 13 inngs. .Again with Donald Sachin avg. 32 in 20 inngs and Lara 34 in 20 inngs.Not exactly all time stuff.I wonder how these two would have fared during the 70s and 80s era.Let me tell you, I am a big fan of Lara's artistry, and even like Sachin, but can't stand the hyping up!Both beefed up their avgs vs these teams post the retirement of these bowlers.

Lara,Steve,Ponting told Wasim was the best they faced, But i never feel he had any edge over Tendulkar ,tendulkar had never rated him as best because he had never struggled against himn even in best swinging conditions..Both Akram and Tendulakr were the Best bowler and batsman especially in ODI in the 90's,Tendulakr would have faced Akram at his best more than any other good bastmen in that period because India vs Pak encouter used ot happen more often thhan not in 90s

wasim is still the greatest left arm fast bowler to have played cricket many other players have rated him the best they have seen but the greatest accolade paid to wasim is by the west indian commentator mr tony cozier who called him the high priest of fast swing bowling.the closest to wasim is chaminda vas from sri lanka

I am an Indian and am a huge fan of Akram. And I am not unique,most genuine Cricket lovers in India are. But I do not rate Akram as highly. For one thing his record is actually better in sub continental wickets than outside. With all that swing and reverse swing bowled at a high pace and often ball keeping low. He was not that great in bouncing out the batsmen or bowling awkward length deliveries.That shows he will not have benefited all that much had he been born in Australia,Eng etc. His style was made for sub continent. Then how can you look past the great West Indians if you are to select the best fast bowler that ever was? Ambrose was no less. Neither was Marshall. But the only fast bowler who can claim to be best ever is none other than Michael Holding.