Former Pakistan fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar reckons that the ICC has “successfully finished” cricket in the last decade and brought it down to its knees. During a conversation with Sanjay Manjrekar for ESPNcricinfo’s podcast, Akhtar looked in complete anguish with the current playing conditions of the limited-overs cricket, which has made it a game only for the batsmen.

Akhtar was sharp in his criticism after Manjrekar asked for his take on a trend that fast bowlers are going a bit slow in ODIs and T20Is, especially in the shortest format, while spinners are bowling faster. He 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).”

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Shoaib feels the number of bouncers per over can be increased as there are two new balls and only four fielders outside the circle for the better part of a one-day match. Speaking about Tendulkar, Akhtar said that he is one with whom he never got aggressive, as there was a lot of respect for the world’s best batsman.

Talking about pull shots, the speed merchant said that at his peak the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli would have found it difficult to play that shot against him because of his express pace.

Shoab said, “I would have come wide off the crease and tried to shape that new ball out and lured him into driving. Something that James Anderson has done with him. Having said that he would have scored as many runs as he scored now had I also played.”

Manjrekar asked him whether the culture of producing express fast bowlers is still there in Pakistan or they are happy producing fast-medium bowlers.

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Akhtar elaborated, “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. You don’t get fast bowlers from people who are by nature ghulaam (subservient).”