LONDON: Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni said on Thursday that ?Rawalpindi Express? Shoaib Akhtar is the toughest bowler he has faced, Times of India reported on Thursday.

Dhoni faced off against Akhtar in five ODI and five Tests and picked the Pakistani seamer over other quicks such as Brett Lee, Dale Steyn and Stuart Broad.

"All the fast bowlers are quite difficult, with the limited technique I had, it was very difficult to face the fast bowlers. Still, if I had to pick one, I would pick Shoaib Akhtar," Dhoni said.

According to the former Indian skipper, Shoaib Akhtar was quick, fast, could bowl a yoker, a bouncer but a batsman never expected a beamer.

"He was a bit unpredictable (but) he was fun to play against."

Honoured by Dhoni?s praise

Shoaib Akhtar said he was honoured by the Dhoni?s praise.

?Great captain. He has done everything and won all the titles. He was the finest ODI player India had ever produced along with Yuvraj Singh,? Akhtar said about Dhoni.