Speed and Shoaib Akhtar have been considered to be absolute synonymous in the world of cricket. Popularly known as the Rawalpindi Express, Akhtar provided a new meaning to fast bowling and threatened the careers of star batsmen all over the world with versatile and lethal pace.

Born on 13 August 1975, Shoaib Akhtar made his test debut on 29 November 1997 v West Indies and ODI debut against 28 March 1998 v Zimbabwe. The strongly-built bowler from Pakistan set an official world record after delivering the fastest ball at 161.3 km/ph (100.2 mph), twice at a cricket match. Shoaib played 46 tests to take 178 wickets and 147 ODIs to take 227 wickets. The career of Akhtar saw unprecedented highs in a pre-World Cup series against India in 1999. From then on, there was just no looking back for this express bowler.

However, career of this Pakistani bowler has never been short of controversies. He was accused of not being a team player and even got involved in a drug scandal besides criticizing the Pakistan Cricket Board. To add to the woes, Akhtar entered into a fight which resulted in Pakistani team mate Mohammad Asif being struck by a bat on his left thigh. This was after Asif and Shahid Afridi disagreed with Shoaib that he didn’t share the same status as legendary former Pakistan Captain, Imran Khan, in Pakistan cricket and even ridiculed him for having such a mind frame.

Things may have gone against Shoaib Akhtar many times but he is all set to bowl his heart out again and reclaim his status as the world’s most feared bowler.

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Gabriela Beatriz Sabatini, popularly known as Gabby or the Princess of the Pampas, is considered to be one of the most talented tennis players. The Argentine tennis player was one of the most admired and skilled tennis players on the women’s circuit in the late-1980s and early-1990s.

Gabriela Sabatini won accolades from players of her times, stalwarts, and critics for her versatile stylish game and perceived attractiveness. Sabatini started playing tennis at the young age of 6 and surprised many by winning her first tournament at the age of 8 years when most girls are playing with their Barbie dolls.

Sabatini rose to stardom when she became the youngest-ever player to reach the French Open semi-finals where she lost to Chris Evert. The 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul saw Gabriela Sabatini winning the silver medal for her country, Argentina. Born on 16 May 1970, Sabatini turned professional in January 1985 and won the Wimbledon in 1988 and the US Open in 1990. The year 1991 was turning point in this tennis great’s career when she won five tournaments in the first half of the year.

In 1994, Gabriela Sabatini published a motivational book entitled My Story on the inspirations behind her to become a tennis player. The “beautiful artist” on the tennis ground retired in 1996 but has been an inspiration for many of today’s tennis players. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame on July 15, 2006.

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