Shoaib Akhtar touched the 100-mph speed while bowling in the Lahore ODI against New Zealand in 2002 but the record was not recognized by the ICC.
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Shoaib Akhtar was the ultimate speed demon when it came to bowling at the start of the 21st century. With a long run-up, Akhtar was the most intimidating sight in world cricket. His need for speed made him the blockbuster bowler in that era. Many people believed that Akhtar would perhaps be the first bowler to breach the 100 miles per hour in bowling. Regularly clocking in excess of 95 mph, Akhtar pushed the boundaries of speed whenever he stepped on the field.
However, on April 27, 2002, Akhtar seemed to have done the impossible. In the third ODI against New Zealand in Lahore, Akhtar was bowling to Craig McMillan. One of the deliveries was clocked at 100.4 mph. Many believed that Akhtar had finally done it. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has other ideas. What was believed to be a record was deemed unofficial. The reason for not sanctioning it as a record was because the ICC did not have a standard measuring tool.
A statement was released from Stalker Sport, the USA manufacturing firm that had produced the Speed Gun. In a statement, it said, “The Speed Radar Gun is called “Stalker Sport”. It is authentic and reliable as it can be tested with an internationally used speed checking device. We have no interests of claiming any ‘World Records’ or any ‘Official records’ and are acting in the best interest of the game of cricket.”
New Zealand were whitewashed 0-3 in the ODIs. In the first Test at Karachi, Inzamam-ul-Haq blasted 329 and the Kiwis were decimated by Akhtar who took 6/11 in a devastating display of pace bowling. Pakistan won the Test by an innings but the second Test was cancelled following a terror attack. The situation in Pakistan was volatile following the 9/11 terror attacks.
However, Akhtar would have the record. During the 2003 World Cup match on February 22 against England in Cape Town, Akhtar bowled a ball at 100.24 mph (161.3 mph). Akhtar’s record still stands tall.
The likes of Shaun Tait and Brett Lee have come close to breaking his record but have failed to do so. Mitchell Starc came close to breaking his record, but fell short by 0.3 mph. Thus, Akhtar has remained the ultimate speed gun for close to two decades.
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