Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar feels that the current crop of fast bowlers around the world is not fast enough to terrorise the world-class batting line-ups. He is of the opinion that one of the main reasons why Test cricket is suffering is the inability of fast bowlers to bowl at vicious pace. He said that the current fast bowlers must bowl quick to keep the opposition batsmen at bay. He further added that the talent itself is diminishing days in these days.
He recalled how the fast bowlers of the Pakistan bowling line-up during the 1990’s used to terrorise the opposition with their serious pace. The likes of Imran Khan, Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar himself forged a formidable force in Tests. The former pacer feels among the current crop of bowlers only Mitchell Starc and Dale Steyn can clock serious speed.
“The talent is diminishing when it comes to fast bowling. You don’t see many fast bowlers coming in and bowling at 95 miles per hour to terrorise the batsmen. There are not many great fast bowlers these days. You only have Dale Steyn and Mitchell Starc now. Cricket lack those fearsome characters these days. You need those sort of fast bowlers to keep Test cricket alive. I think the bigger players in ICC need to do something about it,” Akhtar said.
He further said that the current group of Pakistan fast bowlers aren’t quick enough but has the ability to run down any batting line-up on their given day. He gave the example of the Champions Trophy final where the Pakistan bowling line-up ran through the star-studded Indian batting line-up to clinch the Champions Trophy for the first time in their history.
“They are not quick. But they are good enough fast bowlers. Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Rumman Raees, (Usman Khan) Shinwari are not as quick, but they can run through opposition batting line-ups. Our bowlers put so much pressure on Indian batsmen in the Champions Trophy final and they just couldn’t cope with that. They are good fast bowlers who are creating that magic,” Akhtar was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times.
Speaking on his debut at Sharjah where Akhtar bowled splendidly and ended up bagging the Player of the Series Award.
“When I first came to play in Sharjah in 1998, they told me that they would consider me as a good fast bowler only if I could take wickets and win matches for Pakistan on dry wickets. And I went on to take lot of wickets, thanks to my reverse swing. I was named the Man-of-the-series and they gave me a beautiful car. I kept that car for the longest period of time,” said Akhtar.