My wife told me 50 is the new 40: Wasim Akram

Legendary paceman from Pakistan, Wasim Akram is probably one of the best pace bowlers cricketing world had ever witnessed. Widely known as the ‘sultan of swing’ has a lot of fans all over the world, especially in India and Pakistan.

The left-arm fast bowler celebrated his birthday yesterday (3rd June), who marked his 50th birthday saying, life is “exemplary” and that his wife named Shaniera, told him that the half-century “is the new 40″. He celebrated the birthday with his family and friends.

He was quoted saying on his birthday that cricket has brought fans and fame. “My wife told me 50 is the new 40,” he told AFP. “So it’s enjoyable.”

“Cricket is a great leveller. It transformed my life from an ordinary boy to one who is loved in Pakistan and India by over 1.5 billion people and it’s incredible,” he added.

Also Read: 17 Facts about Wasim Akram: The King of swing since 1984

The legendary bowler said that he never thought of this kind of fame in his earlier days and it’s a dream come true for him. “It is a life in which dreams turned into reality. I never imagined this fame and success when I started my career and to have played so much and captained your team winning the World Cup is more than I had dreamed. Each day of my cricketing life and even now has been exemplary. I am what I am because of my fans across the world.”

“There are no shortcuts to success,”  Wasim said, who is current coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL. “I tell every player, in Pakistan or India, that you have to work hard and only that can help you show your skills at the highest level. This is true for every field of life.”

Wasim said he has no regrets in life. “People do make a lot of mistakes and I too have made some, but I have no regrets in life and no complaints, my name is in cricket history books and will remain there and that’s a great pride for me,” he concludes.