Diamonds, Mother Teresa and Tarzan

"How many diamonds can you retrieve from one single mine; there has to be an end somewhere. I don't see any natural fast bowler after me."
Shoaib Akhtar, the last of Pakistan's gems, foretells a grim future (June 14, 2008)

"I think I will donate the money to Mother Teresa or something like that."
Shoaib's latest 'Shoaibism' when asked about his IPL earnings. (May 30, 2008)

"Once Shoaib sees the crowds, and of course the babes around, I think he will be able to perform."
Wasim Akram has a dig at Shoaib (May 7, 2008)

"The Shoaib Akhtar [of our team] is Asmavia Iqbal ... The only difference between him and her is that she's completely fit, sticks to her game and does the job she's asked to do."
Urooj Mumtaz, the Pakistan women's captain, gets candid (April 24, 2008)

"I don't know - for us or for Pakistan?"
Graeme Smith wittily replies when asked if the absence of Shoaib would be an advantage during South Africa's tour of Pakistan (September 29, 2007)

"This would be a first for Shoaib, who is widely regarded as a more committed playboy than cricketer."
Journalist Malcolm Conn reacts to a quote from Shoaib that he had been keeping himself in shape during his lay-off (May 11, 2007)

"He said I looked like Tarzan, and wondered how I could bowl fast looking like that."
Shoaib reveals how Andrew Flintoff inadvertently boosted his will to win (December 14, 2005)

"Shoaib, leave the chicken man alone, and start your practice."
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer to Shoaib as he chatted to Kevin Pietersen (November 27, 2005)

"I didn't see him in Australia because he didn't turn up for the first three days of the Test."
Steve Harmison on Shoaib's laissez-faire attitude to the Super Test (November 11, 2005)

"This is not a joke, so just shut up."
John Wright cracks the whip as Shoaib interrupts him during a Super Series team meeting (October 20, 2005)

"A bloke's bowling at 150kph trying to rip the fingers off your arms or probably even worse. It gets your blood going and the adrenalin pumping. You are in a fight. And to me that's what Test cricket is all about."
Justin Langer on the joys of facing Shoaib (January 1, 2005)

It is quite surprising that one is unfit in Pakistan and by reaching England gets fit overnight."
Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, is piqued at Shoaib playing for Durham immediately after landing in England (May 12, 2004)

"I am not an angel, I have my bad days and good days. I am still learning day by day."
Shoaib makes a candid confession after Pakistan's victory in the Lahore Test (April 10, 2004)

"We will try and pull the chain and stop the train midway."
Sourav Ganguly, when asked how his team plan to counter Shoaib, the "Rawalpindi Express" (March 4, 2004)