Former Pakistan bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who was one of the most feared bowlers of his generation, still owns the record for having bowled the fastest delivery in international cricket. In his career, while Akhtar troubled the best batsmen, he also struggled with plenty of injuries.
Speaking to The Guardian, Akhtar claimed that had he been the fittest guy during his playing days, he would have been the greatest ever.
“Right, increase that by a thousand and it’ll be somewhere near what it feels like to bowl truly fast. If you get a wicket after all that effort, when the ball hits the stumps, the sound of it goes inside your soul and explodes like an atom bomb. That’s true happiness,” Akhtar said.
Having bowled the fastest delivery in cricket at 161.3 km/h, Akhtar said he wants somebody to break his record and whenever that happens, he would be the first person to shake his hand.
“Every time I turn on the TV, I say: ‘Is there anyone out there who can step up? Please take this record away from me,’ I’ll be the first to fly out and shake them by the hand,” Akhtar, who claimed 444 international wickets in his career, said.
Ben Stokes-led England have reached Pakistan to play what is the first Test series between the two teams in 17 years.
When Pakistan and England latest played a Test series in 2005, Akhtar was part of the Pakistan squad and it was a memorable series for him as he claimed 17 wickets.
“It’s fantastic that England are coming back with a strong side for a fully fledged series. It’s been a long 17 years since they played Test cricket in Pakistan back in 2005 … their confidence was skyrocketing but I soon put paid to that!”
With the first Test set to begin from December 1, over a dozen players from England’s 16-man squad have been struck by a virus. Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope and Joe Root are some of the English cricketers who are said to be fit to play the 1st Test on December 1.
Reports have suggested that the opening Test might be postponed by a day or so.
