Mohammad Amir vs Shoaib Akhtar

[msb314]

Amir obviously has a long way to go match the stats and achievements of our ATG bowlers such as Wasim, Waqar and Imran Khan.

However, he is now comparable to the 2nd tier of greats such as Akhtar, Saqlain, Aqib Javed etc.

IMO he is comparable to Shoaib Akhtar.

Akhtar had the pace and produced some devastating spells against top opposition e.g. Vs. England at Multan 2005. His sheer pace could strike fear into the opposition e.g. tendulkar shaking his legs in 2004

However, he lacked consistency and discipline and as a result missed several high profile games and tournaments e.g. 2006 CT, 2007 World T20, 2007 WC, 2009 World T20 and 2009 CT.

Amir does not have the same pace or intimidation factor but makes up for it with great control and accuracy.

His performances in major tournaments is outstanding and is responsible for winning us 2 major ICC finals in recent times.

It speaks volumes that only a year since returning - he is already our leading bowler in all formats.

So finally the question - who has had a better career so far? Amir or Akhtar?

 

[marlonbrowndo]

So far Akhtar has had a better career easily but Amir can surpass him

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Shoaib Akhtar didn't won us any ICC tournament and after a considerable amount of time, no one remembers these series performances, whereas Mohammad Amir has already won us 2 ICC tournaments, which no other bowler in history of Pakistan has ever done and has still has a long career remaining.

 

[ads101]

Dunno if he can be compared, Akhtar was better. Amir hopefully will end up better at least in LOI.

 

[Kashmirilion]

There is only one akhtar and on his day most exciting bowler to watch, for sheer pace entertainment and swag there was no one to match him. Massive under achiever. Biggest waste of talent in bowling. What a legend if you watched him at his peak you would undertand the charisma the aura akhtar brought to the game long run up hair flying all over the place beautiful action his aggression what a treat to watch everywhere he went crowds cheered him run up. Amir though very talented and a different type of bowler will not match akhtars aura or charisma to be honest don't think any bowler will.

 

[BDwarriors]

amir has more swing and variation. shoaib mostly speed and yorker. i would take amir.

 

[AlizeeFan]

Even if you don't ignore the pace factor, Akhtar was comfortably better bowler in both formats.

 

[Leo23]

amir will not be comparable unless he improves his mediocre test record

his test record is hardly better than ishant sharma

 

[Leo23]

Shoaib Akhtar didn't won us any ICC tournament and after a considerable amount of time, no one remembers these series performances, whereas Mohammad Amir has already won us 2 ICC tournaments, which no other bowler in history of Pakistan has ever done and has still has a long career remaining.

lets not forget that akhtar played a big role in the 99 world cup including the semifinal

it wasn't his fault that the batsmen collapsed in the final for 130 runs. no bowler would have been able to defend that total

amir who was struggling to take wickets in the ct showed with his performance in the final that scoreboard pressure makes a big difference to the confidence of the bowler

had pakistan collapsed for 150 amir's body language would have been different

similarly shoaib would have taken the game to australia in the final had the batsmen put up a score

in shoaib's time there was no t20 world cup so amir has had more opportunities to win tournaments for pakistan so it's an unfair comparison

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Amir's not even close yet. What the hell?

 

[Hitman]

Akhtar was much more talented.

 

[msb314]

lets not forget that akhtar played a big role in the 99 world cup including the semifinal

it wasn't his fault that the batsmen collapsed in the final for 130 runs. no bowler would have been able to defend that total

amir who was struggling to take wickets in the ct showed with his performance in the final that scoreboard pressure makes a big difference to the confidence of the bowler

had pakistan collapsed for 150 amir's body language would have been different

similarly shoaib would have taken the game to australia in the final had the batsmen put up a score

in shoaib's time there was no t20 world cup so amir has had more opportunities to win tournaments for pakistan so it's an unfair comparison

In the 2016 Asia Cup - Amir reduced India to 8/3 when we were defending only 80 runs lol

It wasn't enough but he made a big effort in a big game - it is games like these where Akhtar would completely dissapear, even in his prime.

 

[humzy]

Akhtar was on another level to Amir if I look at the whole thing objectively.

The record, the excitement, the swagger. DAMN I miss the 90s!

 

[msb314]

Amir's not even close yet. What the hell?

Provide specific examples and justification to back your claim.

 

[Leo23]

In the 2016 Asia Cup - Amir reduced India to 8/3 when we were defending only 80 runs lol

It wasn't enough but he made a big effort in a big game - it is games like these where Akhtar would completely dissapear, even in his prime.

on an extremely green wicket where batting was a nightmare and 120 would have been a match winning total

any half decent bowler would have performed on that wicket

 

[UN talkz]

Shoaib Akhtar for now.... But Amir will definitely surpass him

 

[Rightarmfast]

Don't recall anything noteworthy Amir has done yet. Shoaib Akhtar was one guy, who would die for his country. Can't say the same for Amir. Just this point concludes the argument for me. Let's not even go to the fact that Shoaib revolutionised fast bowling!

 

[msb314]

Don't recall anything noteworthy Amir has done yet. Shoaib Akhtar was one guy, who would die for his country. Can't say the same for Amir. Just this point concludes the argument for me. Let's not even go to the fact that Shoaib revolutionised fast bowling!

Did he die for his country by failing a drug test, hitting Bob Woolmer and hitting Mokad Asif with a bat?

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Don't recall anything noteworthy Amir has done yet. Shoaib Akhtar was one guy, who would die for his country. Can't say the same for Amir. Just this point concludes the argument for me. Let's not even go to the fact that Shoaib revolutionised fast bowling!

Were you sleeping during the 2009 T20 WC and ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Final?

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Don't recall anything noteworthy Amir has done yet. Shoaib Akhtar was one guy, who would die for his country. Can't say the same for Amir. Just this point concludes the argument for me. Let's not even go to the fact that Shoaib revolutionised fast bowling!

Still didn't manage to win a single ICC tournament for Pakistan, leave alone dieing.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Akhtar was a good bowler, great in ODIs. Amir has done nothing yet

 

[Markhor]

Let Amir finish his career first. He's only completed like two and a half years of international cricket.

 

[Stallion__]

Even though the stardom Akhtar enjoys in Pakistan is greatly disproportionate to his achievements for the country, he was a better bowler than Amir.

 

[Rightarmfast]

Were you sleeping during the 2009 T20 WC and ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Final?

Lolz, so you are judging him on a performance in 2009 and a performance on an off day for Indians? funny!

 

[Kroll]

When Amir first burst onto the scene, he was actually creating an aura and bringing charisma, same as Akhtar, his hair was also flying all over the place in his run ups. There was alot of buzz around Amir at that time. However, we all now what happened and who knows what legacy Amir could have had by now.

 

[UN talkz]

Lolz, so you are judging him on a performance in 2009 and a performance on an off day for Indians? funny!

Lol.... Virat kohli is PHATEECHAR bcz he doesn't perform in knockouts of ICC events despite scoring tons and tons of runs. Amir has performed in knockouts of two ICC events and he also is PHATEECHAR ..... Donald Bradman is alsoPHATEECHAR becoz he faced trundlers who couldn't bowl more than 120k... Viv Richards is also PHATEECHAR bcz he didn't face windies bowlers as he was in the same team..... SRT is also PHATEECHAR bcz he always played for himself and never cared about his team..... David Warner, Joe root, Williamson, Ben Stokes all are also PHATEECHAR and also Overrated ..... Inzamam-ul-Haq is also PHATEECHAR bcz he couldn't play fast bowlers. Lol. Brian lara is also PHATEECHAR bcz his teammates didn't like him.... Kapil dev is also PHATEECHAR and was a Trundler as well
Shakib ul Hassan is also a PHATEECHAR doesn't matter even if he is top allrounder in all formats......
Lol
Lol
Lol
Actually according to posters here every cricketer is a PHATEECHAR .....
Lol

 

[New Yorker]

Amir obviously has a long way to go match the stats and achievements of our ATG bowlers such as Wasim, Waqar and Imran Khan.

However, he is now comparable to the 2nd tier of greats such as Akhtar, Saqlain, Aqib Javed etc.

IMO he is comparable to Shoaib Akhtar.

Akhtar had the pace and produced some devastating spells against top opposition e.g. Vs. England at Multan 2005. His sheer pace could strike fear into the opposition e.g. tendulkar shaking his legs in 2004

However, he lacked consistency and discipline and as a result missed several high profile games and tournaments e.g. 2006 CT, 2007 World T20, 2007 WC, 2009 World T20 and 2009 CT.

Amir does not have the same pace or intimidation factor but makes up for it with great control and accuracy.

His performances in major tournaments is outstanding and is responsible for winning us 2 major ICC finals in recent times.

It speaks volumes that only a year since returning - he is already our leading bowler in all formats.

So finally the question - who has had a better career so far? Amir or Akhtar?

Akthar by a mile, but Amirs big tournament record is enviable. Has any Pakistani fast bowler consistently had this kind of impact in ICC events?
And he's not done yet.

Akram could have written his name in the stars if things hadn't gone so pearshaped in 99.

Akthar wasn't more talented than Amir; he had pace. if Akthar had Amir's bowling brain he'd have been ATG level.

 

[shaz619]

Amir's not even close yet. What the hell?

Amir never chokes against India or in high profile finals

 

[Lefthanded]

Akhtar steaming in from the boundary, menacingly staring ahead was specially exciting. How he destroyed Ponting's Aussies in a test in SL was amazing. That was after promising to do it before the match.

Love Amir, but his career will speak for itself. I think he's basically a less scary and less destructive Wasim at the moment. Maybe that will change. I've accepted that it may not happen and Amir will be unfulfilled talent. Post Asif, I avoid being optimistic about our magically talented players.

 

[Rightarmfast]

Lol.... Virat kohli is PHATEECHAR bcz he doesn't perform in knockouts of ICC events despite scoring tons and tons of runs. Amir has performed in knockouts of two ICC events and he also is PHATEECHAR ..... Donald Bradman is alsoPHATEECHAR becoz he faced trundlers who couldn't bowl more than 120k... Viv Richards is also PHATEECHAR bcz he didn't face windies bowlers as he was in the same team..... SRT is also PHATEECHAR bcz he always played for himself and never cared about his team..... David Warner, Joe root, Williamson, Ben Stokes all are also PHATEECHAR and also Overrated ..... Inzamam-ul-Haq is also PHATEECHAR bcz he couldn't play fast bowlers. Lol. Brian lara is also PHATEECHAR bcz his teammates didn't like him.... Kapil dev is also PHATEECHAR and was a Trundler as well
Shakib ul Hassan is also a PHATEECHAR doesn't matter even if he is top allrounder in all formats......
Lol
Lol
Lol
Actually according to posters here every cricketer is a PHATEECHAR .....
Lol

You said it buddy! The exact language used here!

 

[The_Odd_One]

Aamir has achieved more than Akhtar.

Won world T20
Won CT
Won an away test each against England and Australia

 

[msb314]

Aamir has achieved more than Akhtar.

Won world T20
Won CT
Won an away test each against England and Australia

Since when?

 

[Inswing]

Aamir has achieved more than Akhtar.

Won world T20
Won CT
Won an away test each against England and Australia

When where and how ? Scorecard or any youtube link ?

 

[Abdullah719]

Since when?

Probably referring to this: http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...t-Australia-tour-of-England-and-Ireland-2010/

 

[Kashmirilion]

Aamir has achieved more than Akhtar.



Won world T20
Won CT
Won an away test each against England and Australia

Yuvraj Singh has won a world t20 and a World Cup. Is he a Better all allrounder than Kalllis who won neither? I think not. I love amir don't get me wrong. But boy if you think he is better then akhtar already you sure don't know a lot about cricket. Akhtar without a doubt 4th best bowler we produced (in all formats had mohammed Asif not also had issues that could've changed but that's another topic for another day) and if it wasn't for fitness issues and I'll discpline as well as a play boy lifestyle he would've been up there with Lilly holding Imran as the greatest out and out fast bowler of all time.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Since when?

Leeds 2010. Aamir took 3 and 4 wickets.

In 4th innings, his 4 wickets included Katich, Ponting, and Hussey.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Yuvraj Singh has won a world t20 and a World Cup. Is he a Better all allrounder than Kalllis who won neither? I think not. I love amir don't get me wrong. But boy if you think he is better then akhtar already you sure don't know a lot about cricket. Akhtar without a doubt 4th best bowler we produced (in all formats had mohammed Asif not also had issues that could've changed but that's another topic for another day) and if it wasn't for fitness issues and I'll discpline as well as a play boy lifestyle he would've been up there with Lilly holding Imran as the greatest out and out fast bowler of all time.

A lot of people will pick Yuvraj over Kallis in shorter formats. It is you who have no clue about cricket if you think Akhtar is the 4th best bowler Pakistan has ever produced. The same Lillee did not rate Akhtar much even in his prime years.

 

[mueez14]

Shoaib had some genuine injury problems..otherwise he was muchore intimidating than even waqar...had he played all the games consistently like amir is playing, he must had broken waqaar's record.. but he had serious knee issues.. he couldn't even play a full series...otherwise he was a champ
.. no comparison with amir...amir is good blok anyhow

 

[New Yorker]

The separate but not inseparable issue here is that Ahthar is, as most of the comments reveal, incomparable, E.g his appeal and entertainment value is such that it is never a question with him merely of how 'good' ie effective he was. Thus some might even would vouch for him over McGrath. This love of speed, to which I am also susceptible, attains its apotheosis of absurdity in our fascination with Wahab's spell against Watson. Zero effectiveness, Maximum entertainment.

 

[Kashmirilion]

A lot of people will pick Yuvraj over Kallis in shorter formats. It is you who have no clue about cricket if you think Akhtar is the 4th best bowler Pakistan has ever produced. The same Lillee did not rate Akhtar much even in his prime years.

Statistically name me a better bowler other than obviously the top 3 we produced?? So lillee had to rate him for you to form an opinion for yourself?

 

[New Yorker]

Statistically name me a better bowler other than obviously the top 3 we produced?? So lillee had to rate him for you to form an opinion for yourself?

Fazal Mahmoud

 

[ToeCrusher2]

It is an insult to akhtar to compare him to a convicted fixer

 

[ToeCrusher2]

Yuvraj Singh has won a world t20 and a World Cup. Is he a Better all allrounder than Kalllis who won neither? I think not. I love amir don't get me wrong. But boy if you think he is better then akhtar already you sure don't know a lot about cricket. Akhtar without a doubt 4th best bowler we produced (in all formats had mohammed Asif not also had issues that could've changed but that's another topic for another day) and if it wasn't for fitness issues and I'll discpline as well as a play boy lifestyle he would've been up there with Lilly holding Imran as the greatest out and out fast bowler of all time.

Yuvi owns kallis in the shorter formats. But Agree with the rest, Akhtar is leagues above amir.

 

[Buffet]

Is there any comparison at this point? Amir has a long way to go to match Alhtar.

 

[s.h.a.k]

In the 2016 Asia Cup - Amir reduced India to 8/3 when we were defending only 80 runs lol

It wasn't enough but he made a big effort in a big game - it is games like these where Akhtar would completely dissapear, even in his prime.

Akhtar won Pakistan many games and changed games with his spells where Pakistan were out of it. And on flat tracks too not just on green pitches. Amir relies on movement to get wickets while Akhtar on flat tracks would bowl spells that could change the game.

 

[msb314]

Akhtar won Pakistan many games and changed games with his spells where Pakistan were out of it. And on flat tracks too not just on green pitches. Amir relies on movement to get wickets while Akhtar on flat tracks would bowl spells that could change the game.

The Oval pitch for the CT final seemed pretty flat to me...

 

[anindo]

I was in the stands at the Eden Gardens when Shoaib Akhtar bowled those two deliveries to Dravid and Tendulkar and silenced 80000+ screaming Indian fans. We didn't know much about Shoaib Akhtar before that but the crowd at the Eden Gardens immediately recognized that Pakistan had unearthed yet another champion fast bowler. It was a spectacle to watch him running in from close to the boundary line and every ball was an event.

Amir is not yet in the same league in my opinion. But he is very talented and has the potential to achieve a lot more than Shoaib eventually did.

 

[msb314]

Probably referring to this: http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...t-Australia-tour-of-England-and-Ireland-2010/

Leeds 2010. Aamir took 3 and 4 wickets.

In 4th innings, his 4 wickets included Katich, Ponting, and Hussey.

Gotcha but I think that was classified as a neutral venue test.

 

[msb314]

It is an insult to akhtar to compare him to a convicted fixer

This "convicted fixer" has won us 2 ICC tournament finals and has become one of the best new ball bowlers in the world.

 

[New Yorker]

This "convicted fixer" has won us 2 ICC tournament finals and has become one of the best new ball bowlers in the world.

well, specifically, best new ball bowlers in ICC tournaments.

 

[New Yorker]

Akhtar won Pakistan many games and changed games with his spells where Pakistan were out of it. And on flat tracks too not just on green pitches. Amir relies on movement to get wickets while Akhtar on flat tracks would bowl spells that could change the game.

Akthar could also be neutralized on flat tracks if it wasn't swinging for him. And though he could be great, he was rarely relentless, in the way of a McGrath or a Bond. His stats don't lie. Only 2 10 fers in his career. Amir has yet to bring his Test average down below 30. Asif was another matter altogether.

 

[Shaka81]

Too early for this comparison. Akhtar has finished his career and I would say overall he's way ahead of Amir but then Amir is essentially restarting his career so still has a ton of time to keep improving and potentially having a better career than Akhtar. Pointless to compare at this stage. Anything could happen to ruin the rest of Amir's career, injury, etc.

 

[TheNightWatchman]

Akhtar's had a better career. But Amir is a better bowler than he was. Amir will have a more succesful career for sure