The world has not seen a bowler as fast as Shoaib Akhtar since his retirement. While his speed did drop towards the end of his career, he was, without a doubt, the fastest bowler in the world in his time. The sight of Shoaib Akhtar’s long run-up and delivering thunderbolt was frightening for any batsmen. The Rawalpindi Express also holds the record for bowling the fastest ever delivery in the game.
In the last decade or so, fans saw fast bowlers in the likes of Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada. Only time will tell if the world would see another fast-bowler like Shoaib Akhtar.
Shoaib Akhtar believes that Pakistan youngster Naseem Shah might match him in terms of attitude and anger. Not only that, however, he also said that he and Naseem Shah would have made a fine pair.
“Among the present lot of fast bowlers, I feel Naseem Shah can replicate my bowling attitude and anger. Naseem and I would have made a fine pair with the same attacking attitude,” stated Shoaib Akhtar.
Naseem Shah became a worldwide sensation after he made his debut in Australia at only 16 impressing everyone in international cricket. Just a few days after his debut, he impressed at home against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. He picked up a 5-wicket haul against Sri Lanka and a hat-trick against Bangladesh. In the process, he became the youngest bowler to take a hat-trick in international cricket.
