I Was Pushed to Use Drugs to Increase My Pace: Shoaib Akhtar

The fastest bowler in the world, Shoaib Akhtar, declared that he has never taken drugs to enhance his performance.

The celebrated cricketer was invited as the guest of honor to the symbolic drug burning ceremony of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) of Pakistan.

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“When I started playing cricket, I was told by many that ‘you can’t bowl fast, and to achieve the speed of 100 mph, you will have to use drugs’, but I always refused to do so,” Akhtar told the attendees.

It was my honor being the speaker/guest of honor at the symbolic drug burning ceremony by Anti Narcotics Force of Pakistan.
ANF is making efforts to the best of its capacity & resources for a drug free Pakistan.
Play sports, work out & do healthy activities for a bright future. pic.twitter.com/4nhsZCC6lA

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) November 23, 2020

Akhtar also spoke about how the career of a top-class Pakistani cricketer was destroyed by drugs, but he did not name the player. It is speculated that the player in question is the former fast bowler, Mohammad Asif, who was once caught with drugs at the Dubai International Airport.

 

 

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Akhtar also advised the youth to indulge in sports and healthy activities, to look up to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, who regularly goes for a morning walk, and to stay away from drugs.

The player whose unparalleled performances earned him the title of the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ disclosed that many people had personally suggested him to use performance-enhancing drugs. He said that it was without drugs that he became the fastest bowler in the world and broke the 100mph barrier.