Shoaib Akhtar, the legendary Pakistani quick bowler, is widely known as some of the fearsome pacers within the historical past of cricket. Often known as the “Rawalpindi Specific” for his blistering velocity and devastating yorkers and bouncers, Akhtar terrorized batters world wide all through his profession. His means to persistently bowl at lightning speeds made him a formidable opponent, and he holds the excellence of being the quickest bowler within the historical past of the sport.
Shoaib Akhtar’s worldwide profession
Akhtar’s worldwide profession started in November 1997 with a Take a look at match in opposition to the West Indies. Over the following 14 years, he would go on to play 219 worldwide matches, claiming 438 wickets at a mean of 25.02 and an economic system price of 4.11. He retired from worldwide cricket in March 2011 after an illustrious profession that left an indelible mark on the game.
Listed here are the 5 quickest balls ever bowled by Akhtar in worldwide cricket:
5. 154.3 km/h vs Australia, 1999
In 1999, throughout a Take a look at match in opposition to Australia in Hobart, Akhtar was nonetheless carving out his place within the cricketing world. Dealing with a star-studded Australian batting lineup that included Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, and Mark Waugh, Akhtar delivered a fiery spell. One supply particularly, clocked at 154.3 km/h, was a standout second, showcasing his uncooked tempo and potential to dominate even the very best on this planet.
4. 155.2 km/h vs Netherlands, 2003
In the course of the twenty eighth match of the 2003 ICC Males’s ODI World Cup, Pakistan confronted the Netherlands. It was on this match that Pakistani bowler unleashed considered one of his quickest deliveries, recorded at 155.2 km/h. Akhtar’s deadly tempo proved an excessive amount of for the Dutch batsmen, as he took three wickets within the match, additional solidifying his fame because the quickest bowler on the planet.
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3. 158.4 km/h vs England, 2003
The 2003 ODI World Cup was a stage the place the veteran cricketer really demonstrated his velocity. Within the twenty third match of the event, Pakistan confronted England. It was right here that Akhtar bowled a supply at an astonishing 158.4 km/h to England’s Nick Knight. This supply was one of many quickest within the event and left the cricketing world in awe of Akhtar’s tempo.
2. 159.5 km/h vs England, 2003
Simply when it appeared Akhtar couldn’t get any quicker, he did. In identical match in opposition to England in the course of the 2003 World Cup, he bowled one more scorching supply, this time clocking in at 159.5 km/h. This ball, as soon as once more delivered to Nick, was a testomony to Akhtar’s unmatched means to persistently bowl at speeds few might even dream of.
1. 161.3 km/h vs England, 2003
Akhtar’s crowning achievement got here in the course of the ODI World Cup 2003 version in Durban, South Africa. In the same match in opposition to England, Akhtar bowled the quickest supply ever recorded in worldwide cricket – a mind-boggling 161.3 km/h. This historic ball was the ultimate supply of the third over in a spell that had already seen Akhtar push the boundaries of tempo bowling. The supply cemented Akhtar’s legacy because the quickest bowler in cricket historical past and stays a benchmark for velocity within the sport.
