AB de Villiers talks about his admiration for Wasim Akram

South Africa are famous for producing world class pacers over the years, but AB de Villiers rates Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram as the best of all-time. De Villiers was watching coverage of the Champions Trophy game between Australia and Bangladesh which was halted by rain.

In the rain break, broadcasters showed a television insert featuring Wasim Akram. After watching that program de Villiers tweeted “Amazing footage on Skysports2! @wasimakramlive was one seriously talented bowler. Crazy skill!”

Amazing footage on Skysports2! @wasimakramlive was one seriously talented bowler. Crazy skill!

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) June 5, 2017

Wasim Akram the best!

South Africa will take on Pakistan tomorrow, de Villiers was asked if he thought any of the current crop of fast bowlers in Pakistan is as good as Akram. To this, he replied that he hadn’t seen any bowler as good as the ‘King of Swing’. He further added that he got on well with the Pakistani legend, who is the coach of Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.

“It was just nice to watch the programme, and I felt that I needed to just get it out there. I get along with him [Akram] well. He’s at Kolkata with the IPL every year, and we always have nice chats. And to actually get a bit of insight in the programme on how he used to bowl and what he was thinking while he was bowling is really nice. He has obviously shared all of that with a lot of players in the past, not only with Pakistan players but a lot of players at the IPL. But that’s something you’re born with. It’s a natural skill that he was born with,” de Villiers as quoted by the ESPNCricinfo.

Taking about the game, AB seemed confident at the prospect of playing Pakistan who had beaten South Africa in the 2015 World Cup. He said that he isn’t feeling a lot of pressure going into the game and is confident that his team would be able to transfer pressure onto the opposition.