Hyderabad: 18 years ago, April 27, Shoaib Akhtar became the fastest bowler in international cricket clocking the 100-mph (161kph) in a One-Day-International match against New Zealand at Lahore in 2002. But ICC refused to document it as it admitted that it did not have a standard measuring tool. In the very next year, in 2003 World Cup, 'Rawalpindi Express', a name given by Tony Greig, officially breached the three-figure mark barrier.
It the process, Akhtar broke the previous fastest delivery-99.80mph- bowled by Australia's Jeff Thomson in 1975. However, Thomson's record didn't take place during a match.
In 2002 Lahore ODI, Pakistan were playing New Zealand. Batting first Pakistan scored 278 for 5. Opener Shoiab Malik scored 115. He was adjudged Man of the Match for scoring the hundred. But the limelight was snatched by Akhtar for crossing the 100mph mark.
There was nothing special in the match apart from Akhtar's feat. In the three-match ODI series, Pakistan had already sealed the tournament winning the first two ODIs. So the third ODI was just about completing formalities.
Pakistan won the first ODI by 153 runs and second by 3 wickets. In the third ODI, as New Zealand commenced the chase captain Waqar Younis handed over the new ball to Shoaib Akhtar. Younis was also a new ball bowler. He was bowling from the other end. Younis was also known for generating searing pace. But due to back injuries, he had to compromise pace and opted for a different bowling action.
Akhtar made his Test debut in 1997 against West Indies in Rawalpindi and ODI debut a year later against Zimbabwe in Harare.
By 2002, Akhtar already had a five-year-old international career. He already earned a name as a genuine fast bowler who can hurl thunderbolts regularly.
Due to his ability to bowl fast, former England captained turned commentator, Tony Greig, named him 'Rawalpindi Express'. Akhtar had the ability to clock 99mph regularly, but his ambition of hitting the 100mph mark was still a distant dream.
During the 2002 Lahore ODI, he had to edge out fever to achieve the record. Akhtar kept illness under check to bowl at a speed of 99.3 mph (159kph) to Craig McMillan.
McMillan might have thought he had already played the fastest delivery of the match. But he was proved wrong in the very next ball. Akhtar took a long run-up as he always did and started bustling up like F16 and stomped the ball with all might to clock 100.04 mph (161 Kph) to finally break the barrier. It must be told that Akhtar was known as 'Rawalpindi Express' to the world but he never wanted to compare himself with an express train. He had set a bar for himself that is F16, Pakistan's most destructive fighter jet.
The world just saw Akhtar's delivery to McMillan in awe. But ICC refused to recognise the celebrated feat. Pakistan Cricket Board, however, didn't relent to ICC's stance.
PCB said that the speedometer was provided by one of its sponsors. So Akhtar's 100.04mph was nothing short of an achievement.
But news reports from Pakistan claimed that the Akhtar actually could not reach the 100.04mph but he broke the previous best clocking 99.9mph (160.7kph).
Akhtar, whose passion was to bowl fast, was not bothered by the atmosphere. During a 2003 World Cup match against England he finally crossed 100mph mark at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town on February 22, 2003.
Since it was an ICC event, the international cricket governing body was not in a position to deny Akhtar the feat.
The batsman who negotiated the fastest ball (161.3kmh) of cricket history was Nick Knight. In the second over of the match, Akhtar stomped the white cherry at speeds of 153.3km/h, 158.4km/h, 158.5km/h, 157.4km/h, 159.5km/h, 161.3km/h with a ridiculous average of 158.06km/h.
After officially breaching the 100-mile barrier, he said, "It doesn't matter to me whether somebody recognises the speed gun or not. For me, it's satisfying that I have bowled the fastest-ever delivery."
