Glory of Pakistani fast bowlers;
By: Ghulam Mujtaba
Cricket is known as gentlemen game. Cricket has a history of more than two centuries. It is one of the most famous sports in world. Its popularity is increasing day by day. With the passage of time, cricket is changing. During early days of cricket, batsmen were dominating. Rules changed, cricket became more popular and more countries started playing cricket and again cricket changed. Fast bowlers started dominating when the West Indies launched their dangerous fast bowling attack. Aussies also introduced brilliant fast bowlers. Cricket looked like a game of fast bowlers when Australian and West Indian great fast bowlers came in.
Australians and West Indians fast bowlers were dominating the cricketing world when Pakistani fast bowlers suddenly brought revolution in fast bowling department with the art of reverse swing and lead the fast bowling department. Pakistan has always produced quality fast bowlers perhaps, better than any other cricketing nation. Fazal Mehmood was the first great one in this camp. He was
brilliant with a good height. He impressed the world very soon after his debut. He proved to be brilliant against India and New Zealand. His was the very first Pakistani bowler to be ranked in top 10 fast bowlers. After him Pakistan introduced few other fine bowlers but Sarfaraz was the real one. He gave a new thing to cricket, ‘reverse swing’. This was something which was new for everyone. Sarfaraz was brilliant in it. After Sarfaraz, the great Imran Khan proved to be master of reverse swing. Imran is known as one of the finest allrounders of cricket. He is also known as one of the finest bowler of Pakistan. He got the ability to change the game in few overs and he did it several times.
During 1980’s battle between the fast bowlers was going on. West Indies, Australia and Pakistani fast bowlers were causing troubles for the batsmen and then, cricketing world got attract towards another young Pakistani fast bowler, ‘Wasim Akram’. Wasim was versatile type of bowler. Reverse swing, In-swing, out swing, pace, deadly Yorkers, destructive bouncers, in swinging Yorkers, he was master in everything. Wasim was as good with new and old ball. He got a little start but great pace. Wasim caused trouble for every great batsman of his time, almost every legendary batsman of his time accepted his brilliancy. His was the first bowler to pick up 500 wickets in one day cricket. He got many world records on his credit. That’s why Wasim Akram is known as finest left arm fast bowler of all times. He is perhaps the best ever cricketer Pakistan produced. Wasim is proud of cricket. Many books can be written on Wasim’s bowling but at the moment I can’t. Anyway, Wasim was going great when another star ‘Waqar Younis’ joined him. Waqar was master of reverse swing. He was very quick in his pace and was dangerous with his bouncers. He was famous for his swinging Yorkers. He is perhaps second best in Pakistan after great Wasim Akram. He proved to be magnificent with Wasim Akram. It was really very hard for batsmen to face these two. They were known as ‘double W’s’. Waqar picked up seven wickets against England in an ODI. Whenever reverse swing will be discussed, Waqar’s name will be remembered.
Pakistani fast bowlers were getting fame day by day when another star joined the party, ‘Aqib Javed’. He was also very fine bowler. He got a hat trick at his credit and was the part of Pakistan’s winning team in 1992 world cup. He opened the bowling in world cup 1992 with Wasim Akram. He was out standing with the new ball. During late 90’s Australia launched Brett Lee, Lee was introduced as very quick fast bowler and few of the Australians were saying that Lee was quicker than any other fast bowler in cricket history. Lee was impressing the cricket world with his pace when Pakistan launched speed gun, ‘The Rawalpindi express, Shoaib Akhtar’. Shoaib Akhtar left behind every bowler in speed when he bowled a delivery of 100.2 mph against England during world cup 2003 in Africa. Shoaib became the first bowler in history to cross 100 miles barrier. He is the fastest bowler on earth. Shoaib was very dangerous and used to bowl dangerous bouncers even on dead pitches. He used to touch 150kph easily. He was a great addition in fast bowling department, very exciting to see. He caused troubles for batsmen with his pace. His famous spell against Ricky Ponting is great to watch and perhaps is fastest spells of cricket history.
After Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan’s factory of fast bowlers looked in crises but during 2009 a teen ager proved it wrong. It was 17 years old Muhammad Amir, who made his debut in t20 world cup against England and then whole world watched him. He looked to be new version of Wasim Akram. Left arm fast young bowler was superb in t20 world cup 2009 and helped his team to win this world cup. Amir is as good with new and old ball. He also got control over reverse swing and got the ability to ball over 150kph. Amir was going great when he was caught in spot fixing scandal in 2010. He was banned for 5 years. It was a bad day for Pakistan cricket and world cricket as well. After Amir’s ban, Pakistan re launched 7’1, Muhammad Irfan. Muhammad Irfan is the tallest cricketer ever and his bounce is the real problem for the batsmen. He can bowl with great speed of 150kph. Irfan impressed the world in his first t20 series, against India. He was another historical addition in cricket department.
These were the real great Pakistani Fast bowlers whom the world knows as legends but there are also some good fast bowlers whom names should be mentioned like Muhammad Akram, Muhammad Zahid,Wahab Riaz, Umer Gul, Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmad and many others. Pakistan has always produced greatest fast bowlers and hopefully they will be keep on doing it, as cricket requires that.
Researcher Pakistan
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