I attack with bouncers, verbally... whatever 
                        it takes: Akram 

Wasim Akram has been the most lethal bowler in the world for over a 
decade now. He may be shrouded by controversies of late, but his 
stature can be matched only by a few other cricketers. Akram tells 
Kunal Pradhan what has kept him and the Pakistan team going for so 
long…

You are a cricketer with the biggest stature in the world today - 
with Steve Waugh and perhaps Sachin Tendulkar. How does that tag 
come to you? 

It has just become a part of life. As long as you work hard, 
perform well, it will happen. And when people say this or you 
read about it, I think that's what you work for. In the end you 
think, 'As a cricketer, as a sportsman, if people are praising you 
so much then it's worth it.' That's what gives you the extra edge to
work even harder. 

What do you tell yourself when you are bowling to someone like 
Sachin Tendulkar or Brian Lara? What's the duel like? 

I just think I have to try to get them out, knowing that any bad 
balls will be punished. But that's a risk I'd like to take. They 
can hit me for five fours but if they give me their wicket, I'll be
much happier. Attack them, hurl bouncers at them, maybe have a go at
them verbally… whatever, but try to upset them. 

Do you think he's (Akhtar) falling prey to the hype that came his way?
 
Everybody, I think, goes through that phase. Hopefully, he'll come 
over it, hopefully he'll learn from his mistakes. I think right now 
he's going through a phase and he'll be over it. 

Is it more fun hunting alone as a fast bowler, or hunting in pairs 
like you did with Waqar Younis for so long?

Bowling in pairs is always fun and more competitive. Your bowling 
improve, you attack to get more wickets. With Waqar -- I think I had 
a great time bowling with him and I think we'll all cherish for all 
our lives the partnership that we had. 

There was a rumour lately that you and Waqar had some sort of a 
problem. Is it true? 

Problems are there. I mean if you stay with your wife on a tour for 
three months, you have a fight with her every second day. So, on a 
tour you have arguments with each other but after we go home you 
forget all about it and carry on with our life.