Wasim Akram undettered despite groin injury

Akram is 17 wickets away from completing 400 Test wickets and 52 shy of beating Indian pacer Kapil Dev’s record of most wickets in Test cricket, 434 in 131 Tests.

the 33-year-old pacer could only bowl 13 deliveries in the first Test at Rawalpindi and did not play in the second Test at Peshawar.

Akram stepped down from captaincy after Pakistan was blanked 3-0 in the Test series last year and 2-0 in the finals of the tri-series by Steve Waugh’s Australia last month.

“My resolve is firm that I will beat the world record and I have another three Tests in the West Indies coming April,” he said.

West Indian pacer Courtney Walsh is nine wickets away from beating Kapil Dev’s record and he may feature in the West Indies first Test against Zimbabwe starting from March 14, making him favourite to beat the record ahead of Akram. The Pakistani pacer is joint fourth in the wicket tally, with Ian Botham of England with 383 wickets in Tests. New Zealander Richard Hadlee is second, with 431 wickets.

Akram last week lashed out at former Pakistan cricketers who advised him to bow out gracefully, saying he will silence his detractors with his performance.

Akram was unsure he would be able to play three Tests in the return series against Sri Lanka in July.

“I have a commentary assignment with Channel Four in England and in July England is hosting West Indies and Zimbabwe so I don’t know whether I will be able to play Tests against Sri Lanka,” he said.

Akram is the only bowler to take 400 wickets in limited overs internationals.