Itโ€s an undisputed fact that Shoaib Akhtarย has earned his place asย one of the fastest and most feared bowlers in the history of cricket. Widely known as Rawalpindi Express, he is also one of the only three bowlers to have ever broken the 100 mph barrier. Not only a great cricketer but also an ace commentator with great insights about the game and players. So, we thought to ask Rawalpindi Express to reveal the names of his standout cricketers of 2018.
Here are the standout cricketers of 2018 according to Shoaib Akhtar
1. Virat Kohli
“Very rarely I come across people who achieve almost everything at such an early age, Virat Kohli is one such example. He is the modern day Sir Donald Bradman and unarguably an inspiration to many cricketers. His dedication for cricket, his larger-than-life personality, and the ability to face challenges in tough situations have made him one of the biggestย cricketer in the world.” Shoaib Akhtar
2.Yasir Shah
“My second favourite player is the Pakistani leg-spinner, Yasir Shah who became the fastest bowler to take 200 Test wickets, breaking an 82-year-old record against New Zealand only at his 33rd Test match which is a huge milestone for any cricketer. For me, Yasir Shah’s consistent performance and the ability to take wickets in the crucial situation can be lethalย in the upcoming WorldCup.” Shoaib Akhtar.
3. Babar Azam
“Cricket has witnessed many great cricketers who have shown theirย best skills and established themselves as a valuable team member. But there have also been a few cricketers who possess a lot of talent and amazing cricketing skills but haven’t been able to justify them. One such example is Pakistan’s, Babar Azam. He is hardworking and an amazing batsman and already being compared with a cricket superstar Virat Kohli.” Shoaib Akhtar
4. Dale Steyn
“There are only a few fast bowlers in the world who have graced the cricket history. One of the best would certainly have to be theย modern day Malcolm Marshall, Dale Steyn. All the things the batsmen wore to protect themselves would perhaps not be enough to shield them away from the straight yorker of Dale Steyn. With 422 wickets, he took the outright top spot on South Africa’s highest wicket-taker which is simply enormous.” Shoaib Akhtar
5. K.L Rahul
‘Indian batsman, K.L Rahul has become the second Indian batsman to score 200 runs in a ODI. The best thing about Rahul is that he has been a consistent performer that too at the top batting order, for his team. I think, only he has the capability to become the next Virat Kohli for sure. With his match-winning performances, Rahul proved to be the master in all cricketing formats. After all, that’s what sport is all about.” Shoaib Akhtar
What did you think of Shoaib Akhtar’s analysis of most standout cricketers of 2018? Did your player make it to the list? Do share your thoughts with Shabi on social media.
