The Hindu : Akhtar's record unofficial: ICC

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 30, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Akhtar's record unofficial: ICC

LONDON APRIL 29. Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's 100mph (161 kph) delivery on the weekend would not be officially recognised as the fastest ever recorded, the International Cricket Council said on Monday.

Akhtar clocked the delivery during the third limited-overs International against New Zealand on Saturday.

A speed gun, provided by a local internet company, at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, beamed Akhtar's fifth delivery of the second over to Craig McMillan at 100.04 miles-an-hour (161 kilometres-per-hour), to the delight of 30,000 spectators.

The accuracy of the speed gun has been questioned, but the Pakistan Cricket Board has acknowledged that Akhtar bowled the fastest ever delivery.

ICC spokesman David Clarke said on Monday that Akhtar's achievement was `not a performance criteria that the ICC recognises.'

``It's not a record that exists,'' Clarke said. ``The speed of the bowler is not an officially recognised statistic. But it's a very impressive performance and great entertainment for those watching cricket.''

Clarke said the ICC was considering including bowler speed in its review of cricketer's performance statistics.

``There are a lot of things being reviewed, it may well be included, but it's not necessarily something the ICC would do, maybe it's something (statistics publisher) Wisden could look at.''

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