South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has hailed Wasim Akram’s iconic performance in the 1992 World Cup final as an inspiration ahead of the ICC World Cup 2027.
Rabada spoke about the added pressure of playing the World Cup on home soil.
“I think there’s a lot more to it at the moment with us hosting it,” Rabada told the ICC at the official Cricket World Cup 2027 venue and brand announcement event in Johannesburg.
“It’s almost like freedom as well. I don’t feel the pressure of us playing at home and feeling the need to win it.”
Rabada said South Africa would look to make the most of home advantage, describing the tournament as an opportunity to defend their home ground and represent the country with pride.
“It’s almost like, we’re at home and we’re going to defend this fortress,” he said. “And that’s what it means to me. It’s about representing the badge.”
The 31-year-old described Wasim Akram’s bowling performance in the 1992 World Cup final against England as one of his most memorable cricketing moments.
“One World Cup moment from the past that I’ll never forget, because I’m a bowler, I’m going to go to the bowlers’ club, was Wasim Akram against England in the final,” Rabada recalled.
He said Wasim’s spell in the final showed his passion, and expressed his own desire to produce a similar performance one day.
“Him just cleaning up the stumps and putting on a show to take it home for his country and showing the passion and the skill,” Rabada said. “He was fast, had so much skill, and just had this presence, this heightened energy about him that he was there to play.”
Rabada said South Africa had shown they could reach the knockout stages in recent ICC events, adding that the team had the confidence and belief to take the final step.
“We’ve shown that we can go and play in finals and in the semi-finals,” he said. “It’s just about that last step. So the confidence is there. The belief is most definitely there, just about going that one extra step.”
Wasim Akram’s spell in the 1992 final remains one of the defining moments.
Bowling for Pakistan under Imran Khan’s captaincy, he dismissed Ian Botham for a duck early in England’s chase and then struck twice in consecutive balls, bowling Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis, to derail England’s run chase of 250. He finished with figures of 3 for 49 and also contributed 33 off 18 balls with the bat earlier in the innings.
Pakistan won the match by 22 runs to lift their first World Cup title, and Akram was named Man of the Match for his all-round contribution.
