The 44-year-old former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has recently slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for not handling the game properly as he feels that they are finishing the game.
During his cricket career (1993/94-2011), Shoaib Akhtar was a furious fast bowler. Recently, during a conversation with Sanjay Manjrekar in ESPNcricinfo’s podcast, Akhtar expressed his disappointment over ICC’s present working culture to the game.
During the recent chat, Manjrekar asked Akhtar about his view on pacers’ recent slow bowling nature in the limited-overs format. Akhtar feels that the ICC has successfully finished the game in the last ten years.
The former Pakistan fast bowler said, “Can I tell you something bluntly? They (ICC) are finishing the cricket. I am openly saying that in the last 10 years, ICC has successfully finished cricket, and I would say job well done guys. Jo socha thaa apne woh kiya (You did what you intended to).”
Where are those Sachin Tendulkar versus Shoaib Akhtar contests?
In the present limited-overs cricket, one bouncer is allowable for every over. However, Akhtar feels that the ICC should allow more bouncers in every over in limited-overs cricket due to the present rules, where we see two new balls from both ends and four fielders outside the 30-yard circle (presently, in the second powerplay in ODI).
Talking more about this, Akhtar brought out the example of the former exciting on-field battle between the Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and the former speedster Shoaib Akhtar.
Akhtar added, “I have been saying repeatedly that change bouncer rule (one per over). You have two new balls and four fielders outside. Please ask ICC whether in last 10 years, quality of cricket has gone up or gone down. Where are those Sachin versus Shoaib contests?
“But yes, I would try to outthink him. Like in the 2006 tour of Pakistan, I knew he had tennis elbow problems and he can’t hook or pull me, so I bowled a barrage of bouncers to keep him quiet.”
When Manjrekar asked former Pakistan fast bowler about the present nature in Pakistan’s pace bowling attack, which is very much fast-medium bowling, Akhtar is very unhappy with this image. He wants to serve for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) where he can generate many fast bowlers by preparing them for every crucial situation of the game.