Retired International XI of the decade

Shoaib Akhtar

The fastest bowler in the history of cricket doesn’t need any introduction, does he? The Rawalpindi express Shoaib Akhtar, only this name is enough to bring shivers down your spine. He was a synonym of raw pace. He still holds the record of the fastest delivery ever bowled or you can say ever recorded in the history of cricket, 100mph.

In a 14 year career, Akhtar took 178 wickets in just 46 Tests averaging 26 with 12 five-wicket hauls and 2 ten-wicket hauls to his name. In ODIs, he scalped 247 in 163 matches at an average of 25. He also played some T20I cricket taking 19 wickets in 15 games.

If not for his injuries, Akhtar could have played a lot of games in his injury-prone career. Nonetheless, the impact and fear which he left in the eyes and minds of the batsmen in his short career were so big that it diminished the impact the other fast bowlers had in their prolonged careers.