Wasim Akram joins ‘Few Good Men’ on ESPN STAR Sports
NEW DELHI, India (espnstar.com) – ESPN STAR Sports, India’s leading sports broadcaster, today announced that it will be signing Wasim Akram, one of the greatest bowler of modern cricket, as an exclusive presenter and commentator for its cricket related programming. The formal signing ceremony will take place in New Delhi on Monday, October 20, 2003.
Wasim Akram will join the ESPN STAR Sports’ “Few Good Men” commentary team during the England-Bangladesh series starting on Tuesday, October 21, 2003. Wasim brings to the ESPN STAR Sports’ commentary team the very important and credible bowler’s perspective.
In a career spanning nearly 20 years, Wasim Akram emerged as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time taking the highest number of wickets in international cricket, combining both forms of cricket. He played 104 tests claiming 414 wickets, and scoring 2898 runs with a highest score of 257. He is also highest wicket taker in one-day internationals with 502 wickets to his credit, at an average of 23.5, from 356 matches.
The announcement of Wasim Akram joining ESPN STAR Sports comes close on the heels of the recent landmark signing of another cricketing great Sourav Ganguly. Ganguly joined ESPN STAR Sports on September 15 to co-host the “Samsung Cricket Show” on ESPN, making him the first playing cricket captain ever to co-host a TV show.
R.C. Venkateish, Managing Director, ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd, said: “We are extremely delighted to announce that Wasim Akram would shortly be joining our “Few Good Men”. Wasim has been an inspiration for sportsmen across geographies with his grit, commitment and killer instinct. The viewers would now see their hero in a new role as a commentator where he will bring insights of modern-day cricket with his very recent cricket playing experience.”
“Wasim has bowled to every single top rated batsmen currently playing the game, which places him uniquely vis-à-vis all the commentators in the world. In addition, his understanding of the conditions in the Indian subcontinent and international experience will make for exciting analysis,” said Venkateish.
ESPN STAR Sports’ “Few Good Men” have always set benchmarks in cricket commentary and analysis. The team has benefited from the experience of two of the greats that have wielded the willow in the gentlemen’s game -– Sunil Gavaskar and Sir Geoffery Boycott.
“Wasim, with his understanding of modern day cricket issues would offer a bowler’s perspective to the viewers. Wasim has a huge fan following in the subcontinent as well as across the globe. We are delighted to have him on board,” Venkateish further added.
ESPN STAR Sports will also cover LIVE this season the West Indies tour of Zimbabwe in October 2003, the Pakistan tour of New Zealand in December 2003, the West Indies tour of South Africa from December 2003 to Feb 2004, the Bangladesh tour of Zimbabwe in January 2004 and the South Africa tour of New Zealand in February 2004.
Slated as the most important series in the near future, India’s away tour of Australia begins in December 2003 and ends in February 2004. ESPN STAR Sports’ telecast of the Australia series will come with its hi-quality of coverage, world-class graphics and incisive analysis from the “Few Good Men”. There are plenty of surprises, which will unfold, as the series gets closer. India then travels to Bangladesh in April 2004 for another triangular series with two tests and ODIs.
http://www.espnstar.com/jsp/cda/cricket/aid=793503cricket_newsdetail.html
Maestro starting his new innings with commentary…any ideas how he’ll fare??
