Shoaib Akhtar, the Rawalpindi Express, set the Citifield arena on fire during the first match of the All Stars League. Akhtar, even after 4 years since retiring from all forms of the game, looked crisp and completely fit. The former Pakistani speed sensation and the first to clock in at 100 miles per hour, reminded the viewers of the good old days, as he bowled with a lion’s heart.
While defending a relatively small total, Akhtar gave his cent percent for the team, and bowled with a lot of fire and fury. He made his old pal and rival Matthew Hayden extremely uncomfortable with his sheer pace and bounce. The edgy Hayden was soon dismissed by Akhtar, as he was caught behind.
In his second burst, Akhtar also dismissed the recently retired Kumar Sangakkara, as his bouncer was too hot to handle. Though the result might not have gone his way, Akhtar definitely entertained the viewers with his hostile bowling. The action, bowling, energy and enthusiasm; all remained the same for Akhtar. The question remains, has Shoaib Akhtar really retired? (Pun intended)!
Below, is the mini highlights of Akhtar’s epic spell.