Shoaib Akhtar has bowled the world's fastest ball.
Sports Desk, New Delhi. The cricket field has always been not just a battle of bat and ball. Sometimes it becomes the battlefield of players' dreams. While the batsman comes with the dream of making charismatic records with the bat, the bowler also comes with many types of dreams. There was a time when the batsmen's legs trembled in front of the West Indies bowlers. Then the batsmen eliminated the fear of fast bowling with their fighting spirit.
After that phase, it became the dream of every fast bowler to bowl the ball at a speed of 100 miles per hour. This small, stubborn dream grew in the chest of every fast bowler. 'Just once... just once...', but for most this dream would have remained just an incomplete story. Then along came a person, who ended this incomplete story and weaved a new story. The name is Shoaib Akhtar, who bowled the ball at a speed of 100 mph not once but twice. However, one ball was considered official while the other was not.
Here a question arises that who were the two batsmen in the history of cricket who faced the fastest balls in the world. Let us know the story of those two balls.
New Zealand batsman for the first time
27 April 2002. The sun was setting during the ODI match against New Zealand in Lahore. Slight coolness in the stadium. Shoaib was standing on the run-up. The same passion in the eyes, which had been burning for years. First ball. Then another one. And then came that ball...161.0 kilometers per hour. 100 miles per hour. There was silence on the field. Then there was applause. Then scream. Then the whole of Pakistan jumped up. The batsman facing that ball is New Zealand's Craig McMillan.
That strong-shouldered batsman from New Zealand, who would hardly have thought that he would become a part of cricket history. The ball was so fast that McMillan later laughingly said - 'I just thought that this ball would not go very far..., I did not know that it would reach me so quickly!' But this happiness of Pakistan did not last long. ICC rejected this record. Questions were raised on speed guns. The name of the sponsor was taken.
Shoaib Akhtar gave a befitting reply
It was said- 'This is not official.' Pakistan Cricket Board gave a statement. A debate broke out in the media. But Shoaib remained silent. Absolutely silent. A storm was brewing in their silence and fate played its game. After one year. 22 February 2003, the occasion of Cricket World Cup. Newlands ground in Cape Town, South Africa. Pakistan's match against England. Shoaib was again on the run-up. This time there was not just passion in the eyes… there was also revenge.
England's batsman Nick Knight came in front and then that ball came. 161.3 km/h. 100.23 mph... Shoaib had again repeated his history. This time ICC has no excuse left. No speed gun debate. No sponsor name. Shoaib raised both his hands as soon as he threw the ball. Showed two fingers. twice. This was the answer to ICC. To the world.
Only one bowler was not standing on the field that day. A dream was standing. Who did not lose. Who did not bow down. Who broke the 100 mile wall twice and came forward. Even today, when there is talk of fast bowlers, people first take the name of Shoaib Akhtar. Not just because he was the fastest. But because he had proved – 'Dreams do come true.' Provided you live them with a passion worthy of being true.'
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