Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar on Tuesday (May 26) grabbed headlines as he lashed out at ICC for successfully finishing cricket in the last 10 years and bringing the game down to its knees.
In a candid chat with Sanjay Manjrekar for ESPNcricinfo's videocast, Akhtar vented out his anger at some of the playing conditions in white-ball cricket, which has made things easy for the batsmen.
The Rawalpindi Express was critical of the governing body after Manjrekar asked for his views on a trend that fast bowlers are going a bit slow in limited-overs games, especially T20s, while spinners are bowling faster.
"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)," Akhtar said in his inimitable style.
The outspoken pacer feels that the number of bouncers per over should be increased as an ODI inning is played with two new balls from each end and only four fielders are allowed outside the circle for the better part of a 50-over game.
"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?"
Talking about the modern-day batting great Virat Kohli, Akhtar said the current Indian captain would have found it difficult to pull or cut him because of his express pace.
“At my extreme pace, I would have instigated him to pull me or play a cut because he doesn't have these two shots. I know he loves to drive, so again at my extreme pace, I would get him to drive and would have kept talking to him in between. Something like what (James)Anderson did to him in England," he remarked.
Akhtar feels it would have been a great sight to see Kohli facing the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shane Warne in their prime.
"He could have judged himself where he stood in front of these bowlers," he said.
When asked whether the culture of producing tearaway quicks is still there in Pakistan or they are contented with medium pacers now, Shoaib replied: "People like me should have been in PCB and I would have produced fast bowlers. Fast bowlers should be like leopards which would hunt down its prey.”
"I would have produced 12 fast bowlers and prepared them on every aspect, technique, mannerism, studies, diet, what to do with the body.
"I would have built a complete brand. You don't get fast bowlers from people who are by nature ghulaam (subservient)," he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
