The Rawalpindi Express, Shoaib Akhtar, was undoubtedly the fastest bowler in the world. He is unquestionably Pakistan’s cricket legend who transformed fast bowling.
He may perhaps remain the fastest ever unless his record of bowling the fastest ball is shattered by someone. He delivered the officially fastest ball ever back in 2003, clocking in at 161.3km/h.
Shoaib’s nickname was a tribute to his hometown, “Rawalpindi,” which symbolised his blistering speed, much like an unstoppable, fast-moving train.
His career is integral whenever the history of Pakistan cricket is written. He was a remarkable bowler, statistically very impressive. But it would be a grave injustice to evaluate Shoaib’s career based on just raw numbers.
Shoaib indeed carried the legacy of Pakistan’s cricket legends of fast bowling, like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
However, he sketched his own identity as the fastest bowler in the world. The magnifying presence and sheer aura that Shoaib infused into the game revolutionised fast bowling in Pakistani cricket. By the end of his career, he had redefined the art of fast bowling.
Shoaib was born in the modest town of Morgah, District Rawalpindi, on August 13, 1975.
His early life wasn’t luxurious. He revealed in a Netflix documentary that he was unable to properly run until the age of eight. Shoaib’s father worked as a nightwatchman at the Attock Oil Refinery. The family wasn’t financially strong, so Shoaib grew up facing economic struggles.
The passion for cricket was deeply rooted in Shoaib from the very beginning. He used to actively play street cricket. He used to run barefoot. He practiced tirelessly using makeshift gear and uneven grounds.
During the early phase of his career, Shoaib faced multiple rejections due to his unorthodox action. When he went for trials with the PIA team, he didn’t have money for a bus ticket, so he waited for the bus to start and got onto the roof.
But Shoaib didn’t lose hope and kept honing his skills. Eventually, there came a time when selectors were impressed with his explosive speed. And hence, the world saw the rise of one of the greatest Rawalpindi cricketers.
Shoaib officially entered Pakistan domestic cricket during the 1993/94 season with his List A debut. He followed with his first-class debut in the 1994/95 season, representing Rawalpindi.
Shoaib Akhtar celebrates a wicket in 2010. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
During his domestic career, Shoaib represented several domestic sides. He started with Rawalpindi and Rawalpindi Under-19. Shoaib later represented prominent, strong domestic teams, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Agriculture Development Bank of Pakistan (ADBP).
During the 1995/96 to 1997/98 Pakistan domestic cricket seasons, Shoaib was a standout bowler.
In the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in particular, Shoaib was making breakthroughs on flat tracks. Shoaib was equally awesome in the List A tours and the Wills Cup, where he took several five-wicket hauls.
It was during the 1994/95 first-class season that PCB’s then chief executive, Majid Khan, noticed Akhtar’s potential. He was then sent for a Pakistan A team’s tour of England in 1996.
These standout performances caught the attention of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s selection committee, headed by Wasim Bari. They selected Shoaib for his Test debut against the West Indies in November 1997.
Akhtar’s international career was initially delayed. At the time, the Wasim Akram–Waqar Younis-led attack was already dominating in Pakistan. Shoaib was given his Test cap in 1997 against the West Indies. It happened at his home ground in Rawalpindi.
This was the same soil where he used to grind hard in domestic cricket. The first few matches of Shoaib’s career were decent and showed glimpses of his potential, but were not eye-catching. By the end of his first eight Tests, Akhtar had just 18 wickets.
Shoaib’s first real showdown began in 1999. From that year onward, the world started taking notice. In 1999, in a fully packed stadium at Kolkata, Shoaib dismissed Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar on consecutive deliveries. This was the first time he ever bowled to Tendulkar. The Rawalpindi Express shattered his stumps with a lethal toe-crusher.
During the 1999 Cricket World Cup, Shoaib was one of Pakistan’s deadliest weapons. That World Cup journey introduced the world to a ferocious competitor.
In the semi-final of the tournament, Shoaib delivered his best figures of 3/55 against New Zealand. He dismissed Stephen Fleming with a thunderous inswinging yorker. According to South African cricketer Dale Steyn, this was probably the most flawless yorker.
In 2000, in an interview with George Dobell, Shoaib declared he wanted to create nearly unbreakable records. In the 2003 Cricket World Cup, he bowled the fastest ball in cricket history, clocked at 161.3km/h.
Interestingly, Akhtar also unleashed a 161.3km/h thunderbolt against New Zealand on April 27, 2002. However, it was not officially recognised due to speed gun issues, which add nuance to the record
The reason he bowled with such staggering pace was, of course, muscle memory and endurance. But he also had a hypnotic action. He tended to have a long run-up, which allowed him to launch very similarly to how aircraft take off from a runway.
The bowling action involved hyperextension, too. This gave him the edge to deceive batters effortlessly.
The true “transformation” came in 2002, with Akhtar’s selection and performances against Australia. The golden period from 2002 to 2004 saw him claim 72 wickets in 13 Tests.
From here on, Shoaib had another prime phase in his career across both ODIs and Tests. In 2005, against England in a home Test series, he emerged as the highest wicket-taker of the series with 17 wickets. He was simply unplayable.
Shoaib’s career was unfortunately plagued by injuries, especially during the 2007–2009 phase, where he had to battle injuries and controversies regularly. From 2004 onwards, Shoaib played only 17 Tests. His career could have been remarkably different had he not been constantly sidelined by injuries.
Later, though, Shoaib orchestrated another comeback in 2010. This time, the PCB advised him to focus solely on limited-overs cricket due to fitness concerns. During 2010, after Mohammed Amir and Mohammed Asif were banned due to the spot-fixing scandal, Shoaib once again rose to the occasion. He had a memorable T20 series in New Zealand.
Later, in 2011, a 35-year-old Shoaib Akhtar was selected for his third World Cup. During the tournament, he announced that he would retire from international cricket at its conclusion.
It’s a bit unfortunate, though, that he was dropped after the group stage. He was not considered for the quarter-final. That marked the end of a 14-year career, decorated with 178 Test wickets and highlighted with 247 ODI wickets.
Shoaib’s career, despite all the setbacks, will remain an extraordinary one. There’s just no one else who comes close in terms of sheer presence. This man had batters petrified across generations.
The electric energy of an angry young man that Shoaib brought to the pitch is irreplaceable. He was a loyal servant to Pakistan cricket.
Judging Shoaib’s career based on numbers alone would be a disservice. He wasn’t made to be measured; he was meant to be felt. Maybe he didn’t achieve everything he could have.
But what he did achieve—he did it in a way only he could: fast, fierce, and unapologetically Shoaib.
Shoaib’s Test career wasn’t a prolonged one. He only managed to play 46 Tests, taking 178 wickets at an average of 25.69. Shoaib’s best figures were a staggering 6/11 against New Zealand in 2002. His 5/24 against Australia in the same year was also a standout. But that home series against England in 2005 is perhaps the most iconic.
From 2000 to 2008, his bowling average in Test cricket was 22.2. Only Glenn McGrath had a better average during that period. Shaun Pollock was next with 24.9, and only three bowlers had averages under 27. The overall pace bowling average was 32.9.
Comparing strike rates is the best way to appreciate Shoaib’s devastating impact. It’s hard to assume that anyone had a better strike rate than him in Tests during that era. A strike rate of 39.6 is phenomenal. Even McGrath and Pollock aren’t close.
People often just do a quick Google search and try to judge an entire career. Akhtar’s record is especially impressive here, particularly considering he bowled on unresponsive tracks many times. If you watch some clips from the past, you’ll notice that he took several five-wicket and four-wicket hauls on absolute dead pitches.
Eleven five-wicket hauls in 57 innings is remarkable in any era, under any circumstances. This is just a small example of how criminally underrated peak Shoaib Akhtar was in Tests. He bowled during an era of flat pitches and frequent injuries, yet his stats remained exceptional.
Statistically, ODI was Shoaib Akhtar’s best format. It was the format in which he represented Pakistan the most. Shoaib Akhtar played 163 ODIs and took 247 wickets at an impressive average of 24.97, with four five-wicket hauls.
As an ODI bowler, Shoaib’s biggest asset was his strike rate. He often dismantled teams with his ability to take crucial wickets. Out of the 158 games he played for Pakistan, the team secured victory in 84 and lost 72.
By the end of 2003, he had taken 155 wickets in 95 games. His average and strike rate were among the elite. Only Muttiah Muralitharan and McGrath had a better average than Shoaib’s 21.41. Brett Lee was the only one with a superior strike rate.
Shoaib had his own identity. Pakistan always had electrifying pacers; Shoaib was another force added to the mix. But the way he lived his career is the stuff of a villain. The way he delivered every single ball with that blistering pace and commanding aura is unmatchable. He crafted a unique legacy entirely on his own.
He was a phenomenal fast bowler who was thrilling to watch. Shoaib Akhtar is probably the only cricketer who fits the “you had to be there” and “streets will never forget” clichés.
His stats don’t reflect the true magnitude of his impact. Few cricketers have earned their swagger. They deserve to flaunt it. Akhtar was one of them. He was A proper showstopper.
Shoaib Akhtar featured in only 21 Tests in Pakistan and 47 in total. Maybe if he had bowled on bowler-friendly pitches, his career wouldn’t have concluded in 2007. And he would have claimed far more than 178 Test wickets.
These pitches deprived Pakistan of witnessing Shoaib Akhtar unleash his full potential. Still, that outrageous strike rate during the flattest era illustrates the phenomenal impact Shoaib’s career had.
Shoaib was a cultural phenomenon of Pakistan’s pace bowling. He wasn’t just the saviour of fast-bowling heritage; he elevated it. He added another dimension to it. What’s common in Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and others? They all idolise Shoaib Akhtar.
Shoaib charging in from the fast-bowling runway. Black shades, green shorts, a signature haircut on display and eyes locked ahead. No one used to have a clue what would happen, not even the batter. That’s how aura could be defined.
Every great bowler is known for some distinct attribute. Shane Warne is known for the mastery of leg spin. Wasim is considered the Sultan of Swing. McGrath is famous for his precision. Shoaib will also be forever remembered for his explosive pace. There have indeed been express pacers apart from him but the way Shoaib has shaped his career is legendary.
The Rawalpindi Express should be remembered as the fastest, fiercest bowler that he always was.
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