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For Pakistan's paceman Shoaib Akhtar, producing cricket's first 100mph delivery is only the beginning.

Having broken the record, he is now focused on developing as a bowler, with the aim of reaching 200 one-day international wickets before the start of next year's World Cup in South Africa.

He has so far taken 105 wickets in 62 matches at a cost of just over 20 runs each.

Shoaib was clocked for a 100.04 mph delivery during Saturday's game against New Zealand in Lahore, beating Australian Jeff Thomson's 99.8mph in controlled conditions in 1975.

"I am really happy and honoured that I have proved to be the fastest bowler in the World," he told BBC Sport Online. "Before that 100 mile-delivery, I knew that I was close to breaking that historic mark.

"I bowled a delivery and looked at the speed gun which was showing my speed at 98.17, so I thought a little more effort was needed.

"The next fastest delivery was at 99.4 mph and all my colleagues were really excited.

"I asked my team-mates to look at the speed gun and bowled the next one and it was 100.04 mph," Shoaib said.

"Waqar Younis and everyone else congratulated me. I was really happy then.

"I was bowling in rhythm, and when you bowl in rhythm, speed comes in automatically. It's very simple and easy."

The 26-year-old Rawalpindi Express now has his eyes on the World Cup next year.

"I want to perform well for my country in the World Cup so that we could repeat the historic win of 1992.

"The key thing is to beat Australia and with the team's present form, I think we can defeat them and then the World Cup will be ours," he said. Shoaib has bounced back from adversity on a number of occasions, with controversy over his action and injury problems having restricted his progress since his debut for Pakistan in 1997.

But that is all behind him now and he is in the best form of his career.

As well as looking for 200 one-day wickets, he also has major ambitions for his Test career.

Wasim Akram is Pakistan's most successful bowler having taken 414 Test wickets so far, with Imran Khan and current skipper Waqar Younis also past the 350 mark.

"I want to get wickets now, as many as possible and I will use speed for this purpose. Mere speed is no more an aim.

"My next target is to get 300 or 350 wickets as soon as possible," said Shoaib.

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