Rawalpindi express reaches the 4-0 milestone

The fast-bowler began his career in 1997 but achieved recognition in 1999 at Eden Gardens in the match against India

Pakistan first heard of the enigma that is Shoaib Akhtar in December 1997. However, after pacers such as Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, the presence of a fast-bowler in the team was no longer a cause of surprise and thus, no one took much notice of the lad from Rawalpindi.

The situation changed after the match in Kolkata at Eden Gardens in 1999 against India. It was the third Test between the two traditional rivals; Pakistan had given an underwhelming performance in their first innings and were therefore hoping to get India out quickly on the second day. It was in dire times like these that Shoaib emerged as the messiah that Pakistan needed. He took two wickets consecutively, dismissing Rahul Dravid by uprooting his leg-stump and then making quick work of the Little Master, Sachin Tendulkar, by removing his middle stump on the very next ball.

A pictorial representation of the entire episode can be seen as follows:

Shoaib Akhtar in action, India v Pakistan, Asia Test Championship, Eden Gardens, Kolkata, February 16-20, 1999. PHOTO COURTESY: ESPNCRICINFO

Shoaib Akhtar exults after uprooting the middle stump of Tendulkar, India v Pakistan, Asia Test Championship, Eden Gardens, Kolkata, February 16-20, 1999. PHOTO COURTESY: ESPNCRICINFO

Tendulkar bowled by Shoaib Akhtar, India v Pakistan, Asia Test Championship, Eden Gardens, Kolkata, February 16-20. PHOTO COURTESY: ESPN CRICINFO

Shoaib Akhtar gets Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, India v Pakistan, Asia Test Championship, Kolkata, 17 February, 1999. PHOTO COURTESY: OXFORRD UNIVERSITY PRESS

The Rawalpindi Express had arrived. What he possessed was remarkable; it wasn't just the pace, but the attitude as well for the fact that he was the fastest bowler in the world had not escaped Shoaib's notice.

For many years after his debut there wasn't a more thrilling sight in the cricketing world than Shoaib thundering down the pitch from long-on, grunting as he delivered the ball to the next victim of his brutal onslaught.



However, unfortunately even though his career got off to a promising start, the train driven by the uniquely muscled cricketer derailed countless times during his career.

Shoaib's tumultuous cricketing career was marred with lack of discipline, suspicions surrounding his action, ball-tampering offences, charges for beating up his teammates, courtroom battles against the Pakistan Cricket Board, lengthy bans, hefty fines, career-threatening injuries and the most damnable offence: doping charges.

Regardless, Shoaib's magical spells of the past continue to remain a phenomenon which to this day mesmerize all followers of the game.

Shoaib has received praise from his contemporaries as well, with the likes of the legendary Ricky Ponting stating that the deliveries by Rawalpindi Express were the fastest that he ever faced.

"To this day, I've always said he's the fastest bowler that I've ever faced in international cricket. There's one spell that everyone can watch on the internet of him bowling to me at the WACA.

"He was express pace, a very, very good bowler," Ponting told ESPN Cricinfo.

Australia's former opener, Justin Langer while speaking of Shoaib said, "A bloke's bowling at 150kph trying to rip the fingers off your arms or probably even worse. It gets your blood going and the adrenaline pumping. You are in a fight."

Pakistan player and former chief selector of the national team summed it perfectly as he said, "Shoaib has set a good precedent for the future generation of cricketers."

As the former pacer turns 40, we wish him a very happy birthday and celebrate his memorable performances and wait for the next Shoaib Akhtar to emerge on Pakistan's cricketing horizon.