Shoaib Akhtar, also known as Rawalpindi Express, is a former Pakistani cricketer, widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers in the history of the game. With his blistering pace and fiery temperament, Akhtar terrorized batsmen around the world and earned a reputation as the fastest bowler in cricket history.
Born on August 13, 1975 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Akhtar always had an interest in sports, especially cricket. He started playing the sport at a young age and quickly caught the attention of his coaches with his raw speed and natural ability.
Akhtar made his first-class debut for Rawalpindi in 1994 and was called up to the Pakistan national team after being impressed by his pace and aggression.
Akhtar made his debut for Pakistan in 1997 and made an immediate impact, taking 5 wickets in his first Test against the West Indies. From there, his career took off, as he became the spearhead of Pakistan’s bowling attack and terrorized the batsmen with his pace and animosity.
Akhtar’s most famous moment came in 2003 when he bowled the fastest delivery ever recorded in cricket history at 161.3 km/h (100.23 mph) against England in the World Cup. This feat cemented his place in cricket history and earned him worldwide recognition as the fastest bowler of all time.
During his career, Akhtar played 46 Tests, 163 ODIs and 15 T20Is for Pakistan, taking a total of 444 wickets across formats. He was known for his ability to swing the ball at high pace and intimidate the batsmen with his aggressive bowling style.