BOMBAY, 3 May — There isn’t any need for setting up a mutual admiration society between the leading cricketers of India and Pakistan. Over the years, although the exchanges have not been as many as might have been desired, their stars have endeared themselves to the fans in either country as greatly as they have to the players themselves.
Hanif Mohammad had a legion of admirers when he visited India with the first Pakistani team in 1952-53. His reputation as the world’s best opener had preceded him and he was mobbed everywhere.
Then came the likes of Imran Khan and Javed Miandad. Debonair Imran, an all-rounder of no mean merit in world cricket, was an instant hit. Miandad, who took on an image of a street-fighter on account of his antics on the field, had a great following. He was a staunchly committed team man and yet mixed freely with the rival players after a hard day’s work on the field. He remains many former player’s favorite when it comes to reeling off interesting anecdotes.
Today, the number one Pakistani player on the Indian popularity list is Shoaib Akhtar. The man with the fastest bowling arm ever in the history of the game, has now gathered even more admirers after being timed at 161 kph (a shade over 100 miles an hour), a speed at which a cricket ball had never been delivered before.
Even before recording this stupendous feat in a recent one-dayer against New Zealand, Akhtar was on top of the charts in India, and surely must be in other countries as well. This, despite the fact that when Pakistan last played in India (in 1999), Shoaib was the main tormentor of Sachin Tendulkar.
Amongst the millions of cricket fans, who may be said to be members of the Shoaib Akhtar Fan Club, are a couple of young film stars, Sonali Bendre and Tabu. But the greatest compliment ever paid to the "Rawalpindi Express" came from the most loved Indian, Sachin Tendulkar.
In an intimate interview when he was honored for completing 30 centuries in One-Day Internationals, Tendulkar had openly admitted that he found Shoaib Akhtar to be the most difficult bowler to face. "He is not only genuinely fast, but he bowls very straight on a line which no batsman finds comfortable to negotiate."
The tearaway fast bowler who has been only four years in international cricket has already made history of sorts. While most fast bowlers follow their inspirational images in the reigning heroes of the day, Shoaib Akhtar had set his own bowling style and pursued the same passionately.
He came at a time when the pace bowling slots were already heavily crowded. He had to squeeze his way into the Pakistan team at first, when injuries kept either Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis out. But he was soon to earn his rightful place.
Then came the twin-trouble in the form of injuries and suspicion about his bowling action. The Australians, in particular, who had to bear the brunt of his awesome pace, did a Muralitharan on him. Like they had done the Sri Lanka off-spinner, they branded Akhtar a "chucker."
Last year, Akhtar had faced a most embarrassing situation. When he had arrived in Australia with the touring Pakistan team, he was prevented from playing as the ICC Committee of Throwing had confirmed that his bowling action violated the definition on what constituted a fair delivery. He left in a huff and had decided to take a few days rest at Perth to cool his tempers and swallow his insult.
Then came a timely intervention from the ICC President Jagmohan Dalmiya. He refused to accept the recommendation of the ICC committee and under the powers bestowed on him, as the then ICC chief, he set it aside and advised Akhtar to join his team. There was large-scale criticism of Dalmiya in the Australian and British media, but there was nothing anyone could do.
That is the time that Akhtar showed the world who was the first name in the fast lane, even though the Australians boasted that Brett Lee was the fastest in the world. Shoaib Akhtar’s delivery recorded on April 27 now leaves no one in doubt about the 27-year-old Pakistani bowler’s status of being the fastest bowler the world of cricket has seen.
Before the Brett Lee-Shoaib Akhtar clash, Australia’s Jeff Thomson was credited with the fastest delivery ever recorded, at 100 miles an hour. Long before that, the undivided India’s Muhammad Nissar had been said to have recorded deliveries ranging from 96 to 98 miles an hour while in England in 1936.
One must, however, admit that the devices at the time of Nissar and even Thomson were not as sophisticated as the laser-beam speed-guns that are used these days.
The Cybernet Inc. which recorded that April 27 Akhtar delivery had this to say:
The Speed Radar Gun was imported from the United States. This Speed Radar Gun is called "Stalker Sport" which is used for measuring ball speed in all sorts of international sports.
The Speed Radar Gun was used in all the three One-Day Internationals played in Pakistan. The accuracy of the Speed Radar Gun is authentic and reliable, as it can be tested with an internationally used speed checking device.
In the third One-Day International at Lahore our Speed Radar Gun showed Shoaib Akhtar’s delivery at 161 kph in his second over.
Now there should not be any doubts raised about Akhtar’s bowling action, whether anyone likes it or not. And that is not only because of the authenticity about his fastest ball.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board, the ICC has confirmed that Stage 2 in the case of Shoaib Akhtar is to be concluded. This is based upon the UWA (University of Western Australia) report of Dec. 5, 2001, wherein it is stated the "Akhtar was born with an abnormal upper limb (bowling arm). This limb will always give the impression of an unorthodox position during delivery" and that, "no amount of practice or technique training can modify these two anatomical characteristics" and that, "Akhtar should be permitted to bowl for Pakistan without further concern as to his action".
The ICC will now circulate the UWA report to all international panel umpires and referees, asking them to pay particular attention to the report.
In case Shoaib is called again, Stage 3 will be invoked and the full medical evidence placed before the ICC Bowling Review Group, for its final decision. Shoaib will be free to play international cricket unless banned by the ICC Bowling Review Group.
So, the world’s fastest bowler is born free again to pursue his art without the manmade claptrap of defining and redefining what constitutes a fair delivery. One is thus looking forward to June when Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar will clash once again. Come September and a more eagerly-awaited spectacle will be seen when Sachin Tendulkar faces up to Akhtar again after a gap of more than three years. Both have gained tremendously in their status in the intervening period.
