It is fair to say that Pakistan has always been a safe haven for fast bowlers. From Imran Khan to Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis to Shoaib Akhtar to the two Mohammad’s- Amir and Asif and now Shaheen Shah Afridi, every era has seen Pakistan produce bowlers who enthralled cricketing folklore to the hilt.
Shoaib Akhtar not only went on to enthrall the folklore but also terrorize the batsmen around the world with his searing pace was Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar.
Akhtar, who is the one of the fastest ever bowlers to have played the game made his Test debut against the West Indies at his home ground in Rawalpindi back in 1997 and went on to play for the next 14 years.
However, former Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ltd General (retd) Tauqir Zia has revealed that Akhtar’s career would have been over in 2000-01, had it not been for the then International Cricket Council (ICC) President Late Jagmohan Dalmiya.
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When Jagmohan Dalmiya saved Shoaib Akhtar’s career
Former BCCI President Dalmiya, who served as ICC chief between 1997-2000, is regarded one of the greatest cricket administrators in the history of the game. And, Zia revealed that had it not been for Dalmiya, who stood firm and came forward to help the PCB in defending Shoaib’s action even as the member boards stood against him, Akhtar’s career would have been over in 2000-01.
“Jagmohan, who had been president of the ICC and was an influential voice, supported us a lot in the Shoaib Akhtar bowling action case. He took a stand for us despite the ICC members insisting that Akhtar’s bowling action was illegal,” said Zia, who headed the PCB between 1999-2003.
Ultimately, the ICC eventually conceded after a firm stance by the duo that Akhtar had a medical flaw in his bowling arm since birth which gave him hyper bowling extension.
“But due to the stance taken by Dalmiya and myself the ICC eventually conceded that Akhtar had a medical flaw in his bowling arm since birth which gave him hyper elbow extension and he was allowed to play on,” he added.
Shoaib Akhtar, during his 14-year-old career, went on to play 46 Tests, 163 ODIs and 15 T20Is, in which he claimed a total of 414 International wickets.
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