File photo of former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar© AFP
The 1990s were an exciting time to be a cricket fan. It was a time of great change in the sport as limited overs cricket slowly became the most cherished fodder for the fans. Cricket under lights was the broadcasters’ first choice and it took the viewing experience several steps. But one thing that didn’t change in the sport was the adrenaline rush that erupted at the sight of a fast bowler tearing through a batting lineup.
In the 90s, several fast fast bowlers came into their own and instilled fear in the hearts of the best hitters. West Indian duo Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose continued the great Caribbean tradition of pace, while the likes of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis took Imran Khan’s legacy ahead of them.
But to express the pace, think of the names that come to mind: Alan Donald from South Africa, Brett Lee from Australia and Shoaib Akhtar from Pakistan. In fact, Akhtar was considered by many to be the fastest contemporary bowler and he built his reputation by bowling a number of deadly spells in the late 90s and 2000s.
It was on this day, 20 years ago, that Akhtar produced his best spell in ODIs when he ran through New Zealand’s striker by taking 6 wickets for just 16 runs at the National Stadium in Karachi. The Pakistan Cricket Board shared a throwback video of that spell on Instagram.
Watch: Shoaib Akhtar’s 16/6 Deadly Spell Against New Zealand
Akhtar retired from international cricket with 178 wickets in 46 test matches and 247 wickets in 163 matches. His career numbers may not be the best, but his presence on a cricket pitch was enough to make even the best hitters nervous when he was at his peak.
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