THE days are fast ticking away until the Shoaib show begins at New Road.

Pakistan pace machine Shoaib Akhtar, a colourful yet so often controversial character, may get his first chance to test the Worcestershire speed gun later this month.

It is a sure-fire bet that the 29-year-old will clock up a huge batch of wickets in his County stint, as his record previously at Durham suggests, but supporters may be expecting that little bit something different from the enigmatic 'Rawalpindi Express'.

Because this is no ordinary cricketer. Shoaib possesses that additional magnetism that draws in spectators, in a similar fashion to Freddie Flintoff, Brian Lara or Shane Warne.

Why? For one reason alone -- this is the fastest bowler in the world. The remarkable sight of Shoaib slinging down 90 plus mph meteors from his marathon run-ups is pure box office in itself.

And when on song, there is no finer sight than Shoaib charging in and obliterating his opponent's stumps.

Furthermore, Shoaib is an established worldwide icon, even away from the middle.

It's not every day a cricketer becomes one of the most sought-after men in the serious world of acting.

But that indeed was the scenario, when renowned Indian film director Mahesh Bhatt demanded Shoaib as his lead role in Bollywood feature film Gangster.

Thankfully, Shoaib ditched plans to emerge as Pakistan's answer to Vinny Jones and kindly rejected the offer.

"There was a movie talked about and the guy who wanted me to be in it came all the way from India to see me," explained Shoaib.

"We went out for dinner and I heard his script, but my time is taken up by cricket and I have goals and achievements on my mind. I have got another two World Cups in me and I want to try and stay fit for them. I plan to concentrate on my cricket and I can't do anything else at the moment."

Adding further to Shoaib's appeal has been the on and off-the-pitch controversies, which have strung out into a long list over the years.

They include his refusal to shorten his run-up last year, requested by Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, being reported in 2000 for a suspect action during a Test series in Australia and a regular tendency to fall short of match fitness.

Since the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced the Code of Conduct for international players, Shoaib stands second to India skipper Sourav Ganguly in the notoriety stakes, having been punished on seven occasions by match referees for breaching ICC rules.

However, while Shoaib often tests the cricketing authorities' patience, there is one redeeming factor that cannot be forgotten or overlooked.

Shoaib is a match-winner, a quality fast-bowler capable of blitzing any top order in one short spell. That's why Tom Moody brought him back to England.

Worcestershire die-hards may recount Shoaib's first encounter at New Road in July 1997, when he toiled wearily for Pakistan 'A' in a three-day match, taking match figures of 40-5-182-1.

Since then, Pakistan's playboy has not looked back, reeling in 144 Test wickets at 24.78 and 186 One Day International scalps at 23.04.