Shoaib Akhtar Slams ICC For "Finishing Cricket"
Published - 26 May 2020, 10:43 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:29 AM
Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for reducing the balance between the bat and ball. Akhtar feels that the quality of cricket has diminished over the years and the apex body is to be blamed for the same. Shoaib Akhtar mentioned a fundamental change that ICC needs to introduce to make the contests spicier.
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In an interaction with Sanjay Manjrekar for ESPN Cricinfo’s podcast, Akhtar hit out at the ICC for making the sport all batsmen-oriented. Manjrekar asked Akhtar’s to voice out his opinions on fast bowlers going slower and spinners bowling faster. The 44-year old spoke candidly that the apex body has ended the gentleman’s game in the past decade and sarcastically commended them for it.
“Can I tell you something bluntly? They (ICC) are finishing the cricket. I am openly saying that in 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).”
Shoaib Akhtar calls for the number of bouncers per over to be increased:
The Rawalpindi Express said in displeasure that he has asked repeatedly to introduce two bouncers in one over with two new balls and four fielders outside. The former tearaway speedster lamented the lack of competitive cricket and misses the absence of “Sachin-Shoaib” contests.
“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?”
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