Shoaib Akhtar's Miraculous Transformation at the Age of 9: From Cripple to Cricket Star, Saint's Prediction Fulfills Mother's Worries

With Akhtar's debut in 1997, Pakistan added another gem to their long line of legendary fast bowlers, which included names like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis. Over the course of his 14-year career, Akhtar played 163 ODIs, 46 Tests, and 15 T20Is for Pakistan, taking a total of 444 international wickets. It's incredible to think that all of this might never have happened. Surprisingly, Akhtar, known for his intimidating pace and lethal deliveries, revealed that he was born unable to walk and was considered a 'cripple' at birth. For the first 8 years of his life, he struggled with walking before miraculously experiencing a sudden change.

"A saint used to come to our house. So, he said, 'One guy will come, who will gain fame and recognition all over the world. And my mother was worried. She asked, 'Who will be that guy? Who will it be? What will he do?" Akhtar said on the India vs Pakistan The Greatest Rivalry.

"She told me when I was born, I was crippled. I could not walk. But you know a miracle happened at the age of 9. and I started running. I was running as quick as light."

There's only one Shoaib Akhtar

It's been 14 years since Akhtar retired, but ask anyone from that era who was the fastest bowler they faced. Akhtar faced fiery competition from Brett Lee and, for a while, New Zealand's Shane Bond and Shaun Tait of Australia, but there was no one quicker than Shoaib. At the 2003 World Cup, Shoaib became the first man to break the 100 miles per hour barrier, when he dished out at 161.3 kmph rocket against England's Nick Knight, a record that is yet to be broken.

Many have since come and gone, and while names such as Matt Henry, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson all have pace, there is only one Shoaib Akhtar. From India, Umran Yadav began well but faded away due to injuries.

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