600 wickets in 136 first-class games speaks volumes about the talent that Fazl-e-Akbar was. In conditions which would seam and swing, he was unplayable. But all he managed at the international level was a modest haul of 5 Tests and 2 ODIs. in 1998, he debuted alongside Mohammad Yousuf (nee Yousuf Youhana) at Durban. And contrasting career graphs were plotted ever since then.

Injuries plagued and the presence of Waqar, Wasim and Shoaib Akhtar did not help his case either as he always remained on the fringes. Apart from his debut, he played a Test in 1999 and two in 2001. Then there was a gap of three years after which Pakistan recalled him for the final Test in the historic series against India in 2004 at Rawalpindi. Rahul Dravid's 270 was enough to quash any challenge from Pakistan and Fazl-e-Akbar finished with figures of 1 for 162. He never played for Pakistan again.

His ODI career was shorter than the blink of an eye. A debut in 1998 in which he bowled 2 overs against India and went off was followed by another ODI three years later at Leeds. He retired from the first-class circuit at the age of 29 as he knew the doors to international cricket were closed on him.