Statham is Wasim's 500th (Getty Images).
WASIM REACHES MAGICAL 500 MARK
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Pakistan's Wasim Akram became the first
player to take 500 one-day international wickets on Tuesday when he dismissed
Nick Statham during his country's World Cup clash against Holland.
Wasim started the day with 499 victims having captured the wicket of England
opener Marcus Trescothick on Saturday to move to within one of the landmark.
His 500th wicket came in the third over of Holland's reply to Pakistan's total
of 253 to leave the Dutch on six for one.
Wasim, 36, made his ODI debut against New Zealand at Faisalabad in 1984,
conceding 31 runs off four wicketless overs.
He had to wait until his fourth match before claiming his first wicket, that
of Australia opener Robbie Kerr in Melbourne.
Wasim also collected the wickets of Kepler Wessels, Dean Jones, Allan Border
and Kim Hughes in that match to finish with figures of five for 21 off eight
overs.
The left-arm all-rounder has claimed five in a match on five further occasions
with a best return of five for 15 against Zimbabwe in 1993.
Wasim has also picked up two ODI hat-tricks, against the West Indies in 1989
and again in a match versus Australia in 1990.
Currently playing in his fifth World Cup, Wasim has shown that he has lost
little of his effectiveness over the years despite suffering a succession of
injuries.
In Pakistan's opening match against Australia in Johannesburg he dismissed
both openers, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist, as well as later picking up the
wicket of Damien Martyn in claiming figures of three for 64.
Namibia's batsmen proved no match for the veteran paceman either, Wasim taking
five for 28 in Kimberley last Sunday.
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