Wasim Akram's Test Debut — Auckland, January 1985

Akram was not in the original squad; Miandad pushed for him after a single training session.

He bowled in the BCCP nets and impressed Miandad with sharp left-arm pace and natural in-swing.

Akram had been spotted in the trial nets in Lahore by Miandad, who insisted to chairman of selectors Naushad Ali that the teenager be added to the squad for New Zealand. Akram played his debut Test at Auckland and took 0 for 35. In the second Test at the same ground a fortnight later he took 5 for 56 and 5 for 72. He had not played a first-class match before his debut and was already older than three of his Pakistan teammates. Within five years he was the second-best left-arm bowler in Test history (behind only Sobers in some lists), with the in-swinging yorker as his calling card and reverse swing as his secret weapon. The 1985 debut series sealed his spot for the next 17 years.

“I told them, this boy will play for Pakistan for fifteen years.”

“I had no first-class match. I went straight to the Test side.”

Akram became Pakistan's senior bowler within three years and captained the side from 1992.