Shoaib Akhtar
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Shoaib Akhtar Pakistan (PAK) | ||
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| Batsman>Batting style | Right-handed batsman (RHB) | |
| Types of bowlers in cricket>Bowling type | Right-arm fast (RF) | |
| Tests | ODIs | |
| Matches | 42 | 129 |
| '''Runs scored | 537 | 332 |
| Batting average | 10.74 | 10.06 |
| 100s/50s | -/- | -/- |
| Top score | 47 | 43 |
| Shoaib Akhtar (Urdu: شعیب اختر) (born 13 August 1975 in Rawalpindi, Punjab) is a Pakistani cricket player. He is particularly known for his ability to bowl at great speeds that even the best batsmen find difficult to play and for his ability to swing the ball at high speeds, both with conventional outswing and inswing and with reverse swing. Shoaib has produced many match-winning displays. The extreme speed of his bowling has led to people labelling him the "Rawalpindi Express", refering to the fast train that runs from Akhtar's home city of Rawalpindi. Despite being consistently among the fastest bowlers in the world, Shoaib's career has been dogged by fitness and discipline issues, as well as persistent controversy over the legality of his bowling action, with many observers claiming he threw. He has the reputation of being the world's fastest bowler and as of 2006, he has bowled the fastest recorded ball in Test cricket. He has also bowled over 100 mph (160 km/h) twice in one dayers, with his fastest recorded delivery being clocked at 161.4 km/h, the fastest delivery reliably recorded. Shoaib performed particularly strongly as he played a large role in Pakistan's wins over South Africa and New Zealand (both home and away) in 2002-03 and in a fighting performance against Australia. However, in 2004, he disappointed in a lost series against India. This series ended with controversy surrounding Shoaib. He left the field during India's innings, claiming that he was unable to bowl due to wrist and back pain, but did not seem restricted by these injuries when batting later in the game. Questions were then asked about his commitment and about his relationship with captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer. However, it was later demonstrated that he had a legitimate injury. In 2005, Shoaib regained his reputation as a valuable bowler for his side. Playing against England cricket team, Shoaib made a series of impressive bowling efforts on pitches that did not suit fast bowlers. His slower ball was particularly effective in taking the wickets of England batsmen culminating in him. Shoaib was the highest wicket taker, with seventeen in the three-match Test series, and England's captain Michael Vaughan afterwards labelled him "a big difference between the two teams". References
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