10 most controversial cricketers of all time

#4 Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan)

The Rawalpindi Express

Inarguably the fastest bowler to have ever graced a cricket field, Shoaib Akhtar wrecked havoc during his early days in International Cricket. So aggressive and ferocious was Akhtar that batsmen used to fear to face him while he was bowling against them.

However, his sky-rocketing success during his early years was soon followed by a long period of controversies which kept him out of the squad for a long period of time.

In 2003, Akhtar was accused and later banned for ball-tampering during the Triangular Series in Sri Lanka. Less than a year later, Akhtar again received a 3 match ban - 1 Test and 2 ODIs - for allegedly abusing Paul Adams and was later sent home during the 2005 tour of Australia for indiscipline and attitude commitments and was out of the team for a better part of the year.

In 2006, Pakistan cricket was shaken by a huge Drug Scandal and Akhtar, along with Mohammad Asif, was the prime suspect in that scandal, with both found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs. Akhtar was handed a two-year suspension but was later acquitted on appeal. He was also accused of hitting teammate Asif with a bat during the 2007 T20I World Cup and was banned for 5 matches. After breaking the Code of Conduct in 2008, Akhtar once again faced a suspension of 5 years but was acquitted just a year later.