WHAT would be a more sillier question: Who is Shoaib Akhtar or who is the fastest bowler in the world?
Fans and foes alike, I am quite sure all of you out there agree that the Rawalpindi Express is the quickest and the most lethal paceman in the world. Probably that is why he constitutes the backbone of the Pakistani bowling attack.
Shoaib exploded onto the international scene just before the 1999 World Cup, most memorably for being the one to shatter Indian master batsman, Sachin Tendulkar’s wickets in the Calcutta Test. Since, his trademark dash to the crease, his dancing hair and devastating speed have come to stay for a long time. And thanks to the Internet, he will definitely be here for a longer time.
Of course, the obvious choice for all the best about Shoaib Akhtar would have been his very own official web site. But since Shoaib doesn’t have any (very few of our crickets do), we searched for his online fan club. And, well, we found something close to that.
We cam across a link, www.geocities.com/farrukh_ahmed. And though we wanted to know more from this about the bowling great, this site gave us none. In fact, it does not exist anymore. Quite hilariously, after logging onto the site here, we are greeted with the message, “Sorry, Frasier has left the building”. Man, the humour! Anyway, we went straightaway to cricket’s most voluminous site and checked out Cricinfo at http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/PLAYERS/PAK/S/SHOAIB_AKHTAR_07005649
True to its billing, Cricinfo provides you all the information you need, not only about Shoaib Akhtar but be it any cricketer of the world, you name it and particulars just pour onto the computer screen.
The link dedicated to shoaib begins with the orthodox information that all websites provide, and are accurate in: name, date of birth, major teams, batting style and bowling style. You can also devour yourself with all career statistics with his Test and One-Day statistics as well as his domestic record and matches that he played for the ‘A’ team.
A number of articles and a picture gallery dedicated to him, this site is refreshingly updated. A unique feature here is the Statsguru Filter. This filter is divided into two categories i.e. Test matches and One-Dayers. One can set a filter and see the stats you want to. You can further clean it by seeing his status against any specific team and at any ground whether home or away.
Even catches put down by him can be viewed. All in all, this site provides us with all the information we need. It is extremely amusing; experience the power of technology.
However, as for all people great and mighty, controversy has dogged his career for as long as it has been here. He has been twice called for chucking and subsequently asked to redo his bowling action. And though his right arm still bends, that is attributed to the fact that he delivers due to ‘hyper-extensible joints’ that he was born with. You can read more about it in an exclusive interview at www.telegraphindia.com/1040328/asp/sports/story_3056381.asp. You can also read reviews of many greats including Aussie legend Dennis Lillee who admires Shoaib’s darting run-up and believes him to have a beautiful action.
Speaking Aussies, there’s always a competition between Shoaib and the Aussie speedster, Brett Lee. Still, nothing’s clear. A local speed-gun recorded Akhtar delivering a 100mph delivery. Whereas, Brett Lee claims that he has achieved the feat as well. The battle will go on for a long time.
But before that, you can visit news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/cwc2003/hi/newsid_2790000/newsid_2790300/2790381.stm. The page contains information that Shoaib Akhtar, has broken the 100mph barrier during the World Cup 2003 held in South Africa.
According to the information, Shoaib Akhtar bowled the fastest delivery to England’s Nick Knight during a preliminary round match. Sadly, the ICC refused to accepted the achievement, saying simply that it wasn’t an official feat to achieve.
For more on shoaib, there is cricmania.com/cricket/DB/stats/user/us03/player/PAKP188?... Cricmania is somewhat the same as Cricinfo, but is not impressive enough. After the orthodox statistics of Shoaib Akhtar the site continues with his Test and ODI statistics. There is little dissimilarity between Cricinfo and Cricmania as the latter also provides all of Shoaib’s fans with his World Cup statistics. This site also has a stats filter but isn’t as good as the filter in Cricinfo. Pictures gallery of the player is missing from this site.
Dubbed the ‘Rawalpindi Express’, the Rawalians are extremely proud of their local boy.
www22.brinkster.com/rawalianz/shoaibakhtar.htm is a kind of tribute to their local boy. But it isn’t that good an attempt. The statistics have all been plagurized from Cricinfo. Even the Statisguru Filter is here. Nothing new here. and anyway, it hasn’t been updated in two years. Not the kind fo tribute a hero would like to see.
Of the articles that abound, one of them, at, www.mouthshut.com/readproduct.php?cid=925007324 has roughly about 30 reviews to read about Shoaib Akhtar.
For all those who are interested in Shoaib Akhtar wallpapers of the quickie can find some really good wallpapers at: http://www.santabanta.com/wallpapers/rating.asp?catid=504004. Good stuff here to decorate your desktop with.
I would like to wind up with this truly amazing site that has Shoaib Akhtar stats like no one else. It is http://www.yehhaicricket.com/pak/shoaib/shoib.html. This page hasn’t been updated since Shoaib Akhtar had his first outing with the big boys. But the info on the bowler here is simply amazing. According to the site, Shoaib Akhtar is a left-handed batsman and a right arm leg break bowler! And as if this wasn’t enough, the information is his short profile states that he generates ferocious speed due to which he is a lethal bowler. Just imagine a leg break bowler with ferocious speed. Amazing, isn’t it?
WHAT would be a more sillier question: Who is Shoaib Akhtar or who is the fastest bowler in the world?
