Sri Lankan’s Matheesha Pathirana on Sunday bowled the world’s fastest bowl ever bowled in international cricket – across all levels- breaking Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar’s 16-year-old record.
Bowling in the fourth over in India versus Sri Lanka match in the ICC U-19 World Cup in Bloemfontein, Pathirana bowled a wide delivery which recorded 175 kph (108mph) at the speed gun.
The ‘Rawalpindi Express’ (Shoaib Akhtar) on February 22, 2003, had bowled the fastest delivery-161.3 kph (100.23 mph), against England in the ICC World Cup fixture at Cape Town.
Matheesha Pathirana has an action similar to Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga and in the Sunday’s match he gave away 49 runs in 8 overs.
The fast bowler burst into the limelight in September 2019 when he took six wickets, giving away only seven wickets during a college match.
In Sunday’s encounter, India defeated the Islanders by 90 runs.