Shoaib Akhtar (Urdu: شعیب اختر) (Hindi: शोएब अख़्तर) (born 13 August 1975 in Rawalpindi, Punjab) is a Pakistani cricketer, widely recognized as the fastest bowler in the world, earning him the name Rawalpindi Express. He set a world record by clocking 100mph twice. His ability to bowl fast yorkers, well disguised slow balls, swinging deliveries, and sharp bouncers made him lethal even on dead pitches. However he has never been far from controversy, often accused of not being a team player, Shoaib was sent back home in disgrace from a tour in Australia in 2005. A year later he was embroiled in a drug scandal after testing positive for a banned substance. However the ban imposed on him was lifted on appeal. In September 2007, Shoaib was banned by the PCB for an indefinite period for the alleged brawl with his team-mate Mohammad Asif.
