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Pakistan, the pioneer of innovative bowling styles and deliveries never heard of or seen of before

New Delhi: Pakistan has been in the forefront of not only producing a string of some exceptional fast, swing and spin bowlers, but more importantly, has introduced and pioneered innovations (even inventions) of bowling styles


Akhtar, though also injury-prone, managed to enjoy a longer and more glamorous cricket career. Faster than even Waqar Younis, Akhtar learned reverse swing bowling under Akram and then Waqar. He made his Test debut in 1998 but made his first major splash in the third Test during Pakistan's 1999 tour of India.

Managing to nudge out an out-of-form Waqar from the playing XI, Akhtar clean bowled India's two leading batsmen, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, with consecutive deliveries. Both the deliveries clocked over 95 mph, were bowled with an old ball and viciously reversed in to clean up the two stunned batsmen …