It is said that he replaced Waqar Younis as quickest bowler of the country and who had potential to be world’s fastest bowler but he had to prove himself. Waqar Younis was (is) the greatest fast bowlers of all times and taking him in the team by keeping Waqar was a tough decision for the selection committee and the captain. Wasim put all his weight in the favor of this young man who could earn victories for his side and could be an asset to the country. The one who had urge to be the best bowler. He remained unnoticeable from 1997 to 1999 until Pakistan visits India after 12 years and Wasim introduces him as a secret weapon.
It was second day of first Asian test champion ship where Pakistan was playing against India at Eden Gardens Culcatta. Wasim gave the ball to his most trusted bowler when India was in a stable position with 147/2 on board in 50 overs. Ramesh and “The Wall” Dravid were on the crease. Dravid was facing this gentleman who was not visible by then but was confident to break the wall.
He goes to his mark and runs towards wicket, passes the umpire, jumps in the air and delivers 1st ball of 51st over. It was a yorker ball which broke “The Wall” and disappeared the leg stump… It was one of the happiest moments of the match for entire team. They congratulated him, celebrated the achievement but they came back to their fielding position as world’s most competent batsman, the little master Sachin Tendulkar had arrived on crease and was ready to face the bowler. He runs towards popping crease again, crosses umpires, jumps in the air, approaches the stumps, delivers the ball and stuns everyone, including the greatest batsman of all times. It was the first time even in the batsman’s history when he was bowled out on the very first ball he faced. He never had a “Golden Duck” before. The ball introduced him as world’s quickest and genuine fast bowler of all times. He was none other than Shoaib Akhtar who was an outstanding addition to Pakistan’s fast bowlers. He was one of the best fast bowlers of the world and earned a respectable place with a series of Pakistani creative and aggressive fast bowlers from Fazal Mahmood, Sarfaraz Nawaz, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
He goes to his mark and runs towards wicket, passes the umpire, jumps in the air and delivers 1st ball of 51st over. It was a yorker ball which broke “The Wall” and disappeared the leg stump… It was one of the happiest moments of the match for entire team. They congratulated him, celebrated the achievement but they came back to their fielding position as world’s most competent batsman, the little master Sachin Tendulkar had arrived on crease and was ready to face the bowler. He runs towards popping crease again, crosses umpires, jumps in the air, approaches the stumps, delivers the ball and stuns everyone, including the greatest batsman of all times. It was the first time even in the batsman’s history when he was bowled out on the very first ball he faced. He never had a “Golden Duck” before. The ball introduced him as world’s quickest and genuine fast bowler of all times. He was none other than Shoaib Akhtar who was an outstanding addition to Pakistan’s fast bowlers. He was one of the best fast bowlers of the world and earned a respectable place with a series of Pakistani creative and aggressive fast bowlers from Fazal Mahmood, Sarfaraz Nawaz, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
Even after the retirement of Waqar and Wasim, he kept the pressure on to the world’s best batsmen. Brian Lara said once, “Shaoib’s bouncer was the only thing that feared me in my whole career.”
He was injury-prone who has always been struggling with his fitness in his whole career. He was flat-footed and in his childhood, doctors were doubtful that even the child would be able to run properly. He had an abnormal bend in his elbow which dragged into the controversy of throwing the ball (The jerk allegation) however he cleared by the doctors and then by the ICC. It was his mental toughness that kept him moving for around 15 years.
He had few setbacks in his career and the most talked about was his super star nakhray. He never had an ideal relationship with media and had faced charges of being undisciplined. But one thing he never compromise on was his image of a fast bowler and match winner, he proved that whenever he was given a chance (although he did not have an ideal end to his career).
Pakistan is a land which produces genuine fast bowlers who could change the face of the game in one spell of 4 hours. Pakistan will keep producing such legends and I would strongly suggest the fast bowlers of coming generations to learn few things from Shoaib. He enjoyed his real fast bowling all the time and the status of being unplayable till the end. He was never alleged for match fixing and this was the best part of his career. Although, his stats do not reflect that he was unplayable but there is no doubt that he remained a threat for the opponents in his whole career.
We are in a habit of ridiculing our legends. After Imran Khan, Inzamam was the only great cricketer of Pakistan who was given farewell and a proper way to announce his retirement. Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Rashid Latif and now Shoaib Akhtar ended his career in a way which never suits a legend.
Muralidharan has also ended his career with this world cup and he remained wicketless and lost the final but his nation wished him for his future and thanked him for his services. There are many other stories from the other world but we hardly do so.
Let us start a new practice this time as we welcomed our cricket team although they lost to the arch-rival and same should be done to the legend. Let us clap for him and thank him for his matchless services to Pakistan Cricket…
Good Bye Shoaib and Thank You for giving us a privilege to enjoy genuine fast bowling
very True!!!! we should thank Shoaib. He was a great bowler
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