Shoaib Akhtar's career in pictures
The Rawalpindi Express
Shoaib Akhtar grabbed the world's attention by bowling Sachin Tendulkar for a golden duck soon after knocking over Rahul Dravid in Kolkata, February 17, 1999•ESPNcricinfo Ltd
He troubled Sri-Lanka with a seven-wicket haul in Peshawar, March 6, 2000•Associated Press
He was the eighth fastest to a 100 ODI wickets, getting to the landmark with an incisive spell in which he took 6 for 16 against New Zealand in Karachi, April 21, 2002•Reuters
His 100th Test wicket came against Bangladesh in a match in which he picked up his first ten-wicket haul, Peshawar, August 30, 2003•AFP
Here he gestures to the crowd after giving Australia a torrid time, picking up a five-for on the second day of the Boxing Day Test, 2004. Shoaib had picked up six wickets in the previous Test in Perth•AFP
His 200th ODI wicket came against England in Cardiff, August 30, 2006•Getty Images
After a year's break from international cricket due to injury and off-field issues, Shoaib made a comeback against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup, picking up three wickets, Dambulla, June 15, 2010•Associated Press
Shoaib was on fire during the 1999 World Cup, eventually propelling Pakistan into the final with a three-wicket haul against New Zealand in the semi-final. Here he appeals against West Indies during the group stages in Bristol, May 16, 1999•Getty Images
His first ODI five-wicket haul resulted in New Zealand imploding for 149 in Auckland, February 18, 2001•Getty Images
'The Rawalpindi Express' broke the 100mph barrier against New Zealand in Lahore, May 1, 2002•ESPNcricinfo Ltd
He followed that with another ten-wicket haul in Tests, his 11 wickets taking Pakistan to a 1-0 win over New Zealand, Wellington, December 30, 2003•AFP
England had a nightmare series against Shoaib, as he picked up five-wicket hauls in all three Tests they played in Pakistan in November 2005•AFP
His last five-wicket haul in Tests came against India in Delhi. While he couldn't save the match for Pakistan, Shoaib troubled India in their chase, picking up all four wickets that fell in the innings, November 26, 2007•AFP
While he has not played much Twenty20 Internationals, here he is seen steaming in, defending a small total against England, Cardiff, September 7, 2010•Getty Images
He took 11 wickets against West Indies in Sharjah to help Pakistan win the Test by 170 runs, February 4, 2002•Associated Press
He produced another memorable double - post the Dravid-Sachin dismissals - when he knocked over the Waugh brothers for ducks in the same over in Colombo, October 5, 2002•Getty Images
Shoaib picked up eight wickets in a losing effort against Sri Lanka in Faisalabad, getting Marvan Atapattu for a duck in the first over of the Test, October 20, 2004•AFP
He gave England more of the same in the ODI series that followed, snagging five wickets in the second one-dayer, Lahore, December 12, 2005•AFP
He has been dogged by several controversies - from failing drug tests to being involved with spats with team-mates. Here fans show him their support after he was banned for 'violating the players' code of conduct', April 2, 2008•AFP