The Rawalpindi Express goes at a breakneck speed

Sohaib Akhtar in full flow — stumps rattling all over, batsmen running for dear life — is indeed a feast for the eyes. Not just for a sadist but for cricket fan.

The other day at Karachi when he took his career best haul of 6/16, he was not merely hurling a cricket ball but making a statement. The Kiwis simply were caught in the crossfire. After repeatedly being called by umpires for ‘chucking’, Sohaib had announced that he was at the peak of his powers. And when the legendary Aussie pacer Jeff Thomson gave him an ‘all clear’ after the match, the lips of the Doubting Thomases were sealed. But still a sword hangs over his head.

Called for throwing thrice during the past two years, Sohaib is just one umpires report away to fade into wilderness. If this 26-year-old is called again in the next few months — making it three offences within a year — Sohaib faces a possible 12 month ban which would certainly hasten the end of his career, which is also marred by injuries. Sohaib was called for the third time at Sharjah in November last year but the Pakistan board refused to co-operate with the ICC to send Sohaib for corrective training.