Shoaib Akhtar

Personal information
Full name Shoaib Akhtar
Born 13 August 1975 (1975-08-13) (age 35)
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Batting style Right hand bat
Bowling style Right arm fast
Role Bowler
International information
National side Pakistan
Test debut (cap 150) 29 November 1997 v West Indies
Last Test 8 December 2007 v India
ODI debut (cap 123) 28 March 1998 v Zimbabwe
Last ODI 21 June 2010 v Bangladesh
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 46 147 133 204
Runs scored 544 377 1,670 856
Batting average 10.07 9.66 12.27 11.88
100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/1
Top score 47 43 59* 56
Balls bowled 8,143 6,966 20,460 9,781
Wickets 178 227 467 318
Bowling average 25.69 21.85 21.26 21.46
5 wickets in innings 12 4 28 7
10 wickets in match 2 n/a 2 n/a
Best bowling 6/11 6/16 6/11 6/16
Catches/stumpings 12/– 18/– 41/– 33/–

Shoaib Akhtar
Personal information
Full name Shoaib Akhtar
Born 13 August 1975 (1975-08-13) (age 35)
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Batting style Right hand bat
Bowling style Right arm fast
Role Bowler
International information
National side Pakistan
Test debut (cap 150) 29 November 1997 v West Indies
Last Test 8 December 2007 v India
ODI debut (cap 123) 28 March 1998 v Zimbabwe
Last ODI 21 June 2010 v Bangladesh
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 46 147 133 204
Runs scored 544 377 1,670 856
Batting average 10.07 9.66 12.27 11.88
100s/50s 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/1
Top score 47 43 59* 56
Balls bowled 8,143 6,966 20,460 9,781
Wickets 178 227 467 318
Bowling average 25.69 21.85 21.26 21.46
5 wickets in innings 12 4 28 7
10 wickets in match 2 n/a 2 n/a
Best bowling 6/11 6/16 6/11 6/16
Catches/stumpings 12/– 18/– 41/– 33/–
Source: Cricinfo, 21 June 2010

Shoaib Akhtar (Punjabi, Urdu: شعیب اختر; born 13 August 1975 in Rawalpindi, Punjab) is a Pakistani right arm fast bowler in cricket, who is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in the world. He set an official world record by achieving the fastest delivery, when he clocked in at 161.3 km/ph (100.2 mph) in his bowling speed, twice at a cricket match. His ability to bowl fast yorkers and quick bouncers have made him one of the best fast bowlers in cricket.

However, he has been involved in several controversy during his career, often accused of not being a team player. Akhtar was sent home during the Test match series in Australia in 2005 for alleged poor attitude. A year later, he was embroiled in a drug scandal after testing positive to a banned substance. However, the ban imposed on him was lifted on court appeal. In September 2007, Akhtar was banned for an indefinite period for his fight with Pakistan team mate and fast bowler Mohammad Asif.[1] On 1 April 2008, Akhtar was banned for five years for publicly criticizing the Pakistan Cricket Board.[2] In October 2008, the Lahore High Court in Pakistan suspended the five year ban and Akhtar was selected in the 15-man squad for the Twenty20 Quadrangular Tournament in Canada.[3] Pakistani judge, Rana Bhagwandas stated once that, Akhtar is a legend of Pakistan cricket.[4]

Shoaib is poised to make a return to International cricket albeit in the shorter format of the game. The Pakistan Cricket Board have included Akhtar in the Twenty20/One Day International squad for the Summer 2010 series against England. However Shoaib has not been selected in the Test squad and is expected to feature only in the shorter format of the game for Pakistan in this series