Wasim Akram joins fight against diabetes by AFP

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Player:

Wasim Akram

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DateLine: 26th February 2007

 

Former Pakistan great Wasim Akram said Monday he was setting up an organisation to spread public awareness about diabetes and how patients should counter it.

 

The former left-arm paceman, himself a diabetic, announced a seven-member committee which includes his former captain and cricket legend, Imran Khan.

 

"We would raise funds through charity matches between Pakistan and Indian film stars, and the first match of this (kind) will be played in Dubai on April 6 this year," Wasim told AFP.

 

Wasim, who took a world record 502 one-day wickets and 414 Test wickets during his career, was hit by the disease in 1997 but managed to continue playing until 2003.

 

He said a study revealed Pakistan would have the world's fourth-largest population of diabetes sufferers by 2025, and his foundation would fight to minimise this in the coming years.

 

"Around 80 percent of sufferers don't know they have this disease, so we want to create awareness and then help them fight it," said Wasim, now a commentator with Hong Kong-based television.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)