Shoaib Akhtar

Calcutta: Driven by speed, Shoaib Akhtar has made an impact in most matches that he’s played. The 32-year-old, who is wearing the Kolkata Knight Riders’ colours in the Indian Premier League, recently spoke to The Telegraph and (among other things) picked his favourite quicks.

The following are excerpts

Role model

Imran Khan… I first met him, I think, at a camp in 1992… The camp was at the Rawalpindi Stadium.

Qualities that are a must for fast bowlers

Passion… Drive… The willingness to keep running in ball after ball… Above all, a good bowling brain… In other words, the bowler has to think before the batsman begins to do so… I learnt this by watching Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis…

His five all-time favourite quicks (in no particular order):

IMRAN KHAN: As a person, deadly honest and very helpful… A true Pakistani… As a bowler, well, what do I say? The effort he put in to become a great fast bowler was really amazing… If you take Imran out of Pakistan cricket, there’s nothing left… That’s the kind of impact Imran has had.

Wickets taken: 362 in Tests and 182 in ODIs.

MALCOLM MARSHALL: He was shrewd… He was deceptive… He could swing the ball conventionally, he could reverse the ball… Malcolm had everything going for him… In fact, I’d call him the right-handed Wasim.

Wickets taken: 376 in Tests and 157 in ODIs.

WASIM AKRAM: Frankly, I’ve got no words to describe him… His talent, his record… It goes beyond words… I don’t think cricket will ever get to see somebody as talented.

Wickets taken: 414 in Tests and 502 in ODIs.

WAQAR YOUNIS: A truly fascinating great with a terrific personality… He’d terrorise batsmen and had everything in his armoury, including a lethal bouncer. A legend.

Wickets taken: 373 in Tests and 416 in ODIs.

GLENN McGRATH: Could bowl in all conditions, the sign of an absolute great… He was aggressive in his own way and you only need to look at his record to see how he bowled his heart out for Australia.

Wickets taken: 563 in Tests and 381 in ODIs.

His own approach

(Laughs) Usually, I’m very hyper… Don’t like sitting down and not doing anything… I’m the very positive type and nothing affects me that easily… I can motivate myself in the bad times too.

The most promising young quick

(Knight Riders teammate) Ishant Sharma… He’s a great talent and has a good bowling brain… It’s being smart in tight situations which separates the good fast bowlers from those who’re just ordinary… I see him getting quicker… Of course, he needs to strengthen his muscles… He definitely needs to work on his physique… It’s around the age of 23 that quicks really come of age… Ishant is 19 and needs to train well. As important, needs to be handled well… Fast bowlers are match-winners and should be handled with care. The management aspect is critical…

Finally, his advice for young quicks

You’ve got to have the will to excel… You’ve got to be clear about what you wish to become… Look to the next ten years and set targets… Work hard and don’t allow anything to become an obstacle… Nothing, indeed, should stop you and if you’re wanting to go far then you’ve got to be ready to face big challenges… I say that because there could be people who may want to mess with you… If you’re angry about something, let the anger remain within and become positive energy… That, I believe, is bound to help you as a person and as a cricketer… The system, as far as I’m concerned, must only push those who’re talented. There’s no point encouraging somebody who just isn’t good enough.