Eddie Please Read! - RE: Muhammad Zahid

I'm posting new here just in case you don't notice it in the long "Speeds" thread.

I have some info that might be interesting. Mohammad Zahid has been touted as possibly one of the quickest bowlers ever. He burst on the scene in 1997 and was considered to be lightning, many maintain that he was faster than Akhtar etc. I'm sure you heard about all that

Now I noticed that the fastest recording of Zahid that you have in your bowling speed list (he was hardly ever timed at his blistering peak) was 143kph

Now Zahid has broken his back and has had 2 major operations to his back since his blistering peak of 1 or 2 years. He made a comeback after one of these operations, and quotes from the Rediff and other sources mention how he has lost pace but "was still lightning quick over 22yards" (See this thread for quotes further down the page- (Muhammad Zahid - Demon)). Even after he broke his back again, had surgery and a long lay-off, he recently played a test in South Africa in about 2002 or 2003. In this match his action looked a pale contrast to his explosive one at his peak. It was clear to the naked eye and many of the commentators kept mentioning how he has lost his pace.

But surprisingly, he bowled a number of deliveries during this recent test that were quicker than the fastest available recording (the 143kph that you mention was made in 1998). The fastest delivery of the recent match that i have recorded is 144.5kph.


I know that subsequently we can do no more than speculate at what speed he might have bowled at his peak, but if nothing else, you can update your Fastest Delivery list with this new recorded best for Zahid in the recent match. Here's the video link of the delivery (i've made more than 1 link to the same delivery in case it expires):


Muhammad Zahid Post-Injury in 2002 or 2003- 144.5kph

Muhammad Zahid Post-Injury in 2002 or 2003- 144.5kph

Muhammad Zahid Post-Injury in 2002 or 2003- 144.5kph

Author: Eddie Smith
Date: 29-01-05 15:53

Mohammad Zahid (PAK) 144.5 v SA 2/1/03

I'll add it to the list when I get a chance to update it. I now have hundreds of speeds to add so have started a new file called misc speeds.

That speed was from 2003 and after I did the 2002 list I was a bit despondant at what was going on with stuff and didn't start a 2003 list.

It takes hours and hours of work to get confirmation from the speed gun companies and the like, and at the time I was snowed under. I decided that if I couldn't get the list perfect then it wasn't worth the criticism.

Zahid was no doubt a 150+km/h bowler..............



150km/h is a special speed that is not something to be taken lightly. Only a few are at that level at any one time.

90mph or 145km/h was chosen to represent the genuine speedsters who are not in the elite.

140km/h is the benchmark for speed. Anything less than this at top pace is just another medium pacer.

The video links do not work. Can anyone update them ?

no i think that anything below 135 is medium pace.
135-140 fast medium
140-150 fast
150+ express

DM, u think Sky put the speed up a bit to generate excitement?

Sky doesn't control the speeds, the individual companies supply the speeds which Sky displays.

Zahid was often around the low 140s during his comeback, so 144km/h is not a surprise. He was very, very fast pre-injury.

Man DM.. you gotta quit bringing up Mohammad Zahid thread... always makes me wonder what would have been...