Shoaib Akhtar is a Pakistani cricketer who was born on August 13, 1975 in Rawalpindi, Punjab. He completed his degree from Asghar Mall College, Rawalpindi. He became the fastest bowler in the world, breaking the 100 miles per hour (mph) barrier with his 100.2 mph delivery, which earned him the nickname “Rawalpindi Express”.
Shoaib Akhtar made his debut in Test cricket on November 29, 1997, against the West Indies in Rawalpindi where he scalped 2 wickets and helped the team win the Test by an innings and 29 runs. In 1999, in the Asian Test championship match against India played at Calcutta, Shoaib Akhtar took 8 wickets, including those of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid off consecutive deliveries. In the 2002-03 season, he played an important role for his team in its wins over South Africa and New Zealand in home and away series. He bowled brilliantly on flat, lifeless pitches to top the wickets tally with 17 wickets in a three-Test home series against England in 2005. Having played 46 Tests, Shoaib Akhtar has bagged 178 wickets, which includes twelve 5-wicket and two 10-wicket hauls, his best being 11-78 at this level. Shoaib Akhtar debuted in One Day International (ODI) against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club on March 28, 1998, and contributed to his team’s victory by picking up the crucial wicket of Andy Flower. As of September 2008, in 138 ODIs, he has bagged 219 wickets and has taken four 5-wickets, his best being 6-16 against New Zealand. Shoaib Akhtar debuted in International Twenty20 (T20I) against England on, August 28, 2006 in Bristol and has played three T20Is and bagged five wickets so far.
Shoaib Akhtar made his First-class debut during the 1994-95 season and has played 130 matches at this level, in which he has bagged 451 wickets. He also played for a few English counties like Somerset, Durham and Worcestershire at various points in his career. Shoaib Akhtar made his List A debut during the 1993-94 season and has played 182 matches at this level, in which he has taken 288 wickets at an average of 23.53.
Shoaib Akhtar debuted in Twenty20 (T20) for Durham against Lancashire at Old Trafford, Manchester, on June 24, 2003. So far, he has played 20 matches at this level and bagged 25 wickets.
For his ability to bowl quick yorkers, well-disguised slower deliveries and sharp bouncers, Shoaib Akhtar was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. Playing against Delhi Daredevils, Shoaib Akhtar scalped 4 important wickets and helped his team to win the game, which earned him the Player of the Match award. In the inaugural season of the IPL, he has played three IPL matches and bagged 5 wickets.
