Wasim Akram honoured by teammates

Pakistan's cricket team surprised its famous paceman, Wasim Akram, on Wednesday by presenting him with a golden plaque to mark his 100th Test match.

"I am honoured and elated that my teammates honoured me by this momento; it shows that how much they respect and love me. They have surprised me," Akram said.

Coach Javed Miandad presented the 22-carat gold plaque to Akram before the start of the second Test in Faisalabad against England.

Miandad was lavish in his praise for Akram: "Playing one hundred Tests and with over 400 wickets in both forms of the game is a testimony of his greatness," Miandad said.

Akram becomes only the third Pakistani and 24th player in the world to play in 100 or more Tests.

Both Miandad and Salim Malik, who is serving a life ban for match-fixing, have played over 100 Tests for Pakistan.

"I have always felt pride in playing for Pakistan and will continue to do so as long as I am fit, performing and motiovated," Akram, 34, said.

"I will review my future after every six months and would like to leave the team in a position where they keep a consistent performance level," he said.

Earlier this year the Pakistan Cricket Board bestowed a "life time" award on Akram who made his debut for his country as an 18-year-old on the 1984-85 tour of New Zealand and Australia.

In only his second Test in Dunedin, Akram proved he was a star in the making by grabbing a match haul of 10 wickets.

"It has been a long journey but I have enjoyed every bit of it and I am still pumped up," he said.

Pakistan skipper Moin Khan summed up his teammates' feeling for the great all-rounder.

"I have no words to praise him, thousands of words are less if you praise him because he is world's best," Khan said.

"I would like to see Akram make this 100th Test memorable for not only himself but for the team as well by taking wickets and leading us to a win."

Mail Cricket Editor