Akhtar was noted for his clean playing style and performance and as such was first included in the Pakistani national hockey team in 1971.

He was a player of relaxed approach but extreme courage, control and poise were hallmarks of his excellence in a highly demanding position at centre-half.

From 1971 till 1982, Akhtar played numerous national and international matches, displaying his superior skills in hockey.

In 1982, Akhtar captained the Pakistani team for the Hockey World Cup Championship held in Bombay and won a gold medal for Pakistan by defeating W. Germany in the finals.

After Bombay Hockey World Cup, Akhtar retired in a blaze of glory as skipper of the side which had won the gold in 1982.

He was a good pivot and played important role in Pakistani victories in 1978 and 1982 Hockey World Cups.

He then served as the chairman of the selection committee in the year 2002, and at that time too, his focus was the development of Pakistani hockey.

Akhtar Rasool was elected unopposed as the president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation in 2013 but could not perform as well as expected this time.

In 1990, he again contested on Islami Jamhoori Ittehad party ticket and was elected MLA with a big margin.