'What Sort Of Cricket Is This?' They're All Frauds!!'- Shoaib Akhtar

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar is known for making controversial statements. In one of the recent podcasts, Shoaib Akhtar called Modern Cricketers a ‘fraud’ and no match in comparison to the era he used to play in. He talks about three formats of cricket and two new balls from different ends and how batters are easily scoring loads of runs.

Shoaib Akhtar talked about the kind of players he had in his era. The likes of Saqlain Mushtaq, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shane Warne. He stated the reason why he respects the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Jacques Kallis and he challenged the modern-day greats to play his era when there used to be one new ball and it used to get soft with the time and wear and tear making it difficult for the batters to score runs.

Shoaib stated, “Cricket is ‘Fraud’ today, there are three formats and two new balls for separate ends. What’s the point of scoring 30,000 runs? Where are the likes of Shane Warne, Saqlain Mushtaq, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis? Bring them on with one ball and score a hundred against them, you’ll know your limits.

Why do I respect Sachin Tendulkar, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Jacques Kallis? Because they used to play softball and score 100 under 50 overs with six fielders outside the circle. What is today’s cricket in front of that? Those who have scored runs in today’s cricket I wish them the best of luck, I’m happy for you that you are making money, you’re making followers I’m really happy for you. I mean I’m not the the sort of guy who will get jealous but boss, come play that era, you’ll know your limits.”

Watch- Shoaib Akhtar Ripping Apart Modern Cricket

Shoaib Akhtar Calls Current Generation of Cricketers “Frauds” ? pic.twitter.com/bo6nWR79nd

— Ayush (@Ayush08__) November 8, 2023

The statement made by Shoaib Akhtar was an indirect dig at players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam, and Steve Smith. According to Shoaib, the likes of Virat and Rohit won’t be able to play the likes of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. The sport has evolved with time and the thinking of ex-cricketers should evolve from time to time with regards to the game.

We have never witnessed Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev making such remarks and they were from the time when ODIs were played with a Red Ball, the concept of a fully protected helmet was not there and there was no limit to the number of bouncers that could be bowled in an over.

In those conditions, Gavaskar used to face bowlers like Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Andy Roberts and Malcolm Marshall. If he can appreciate modern-day cricket then Shoaib Akhtar really needs to mince his words before making such a crude remark on modern-day cricket.