Shoaib Akhtar’s name is one of the most powerful in the game of cricket. During his best years, he was known as the “Rawalpindi Express” because he bowled so fast that even the most experienced batters would shiver. Shoaib Akhtar talked about Shaheen Shah Afridi, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mark Wood, three of the best fast bowlers in cricket today, in a recent chat with Sorabh Pant on YouTube. He had a lot of good things to say about these young players, but he also had some things to say about how the game is changing.
Shoaib Akhtar, who was known for being aggressive on the field, complained that pacers today don’t do what he called “misbehaviour.” He said, “I was throwing at 135kph, but curses will only be given at 145kph. That’s not there. Just hit people here and there. How will things go? You’ll just have to pay a fine, right? Then what? Why do people keep hitting you? It’s silly. Give me a rugby ball. That’s fine with me, boss. Just show a little flair when you play cricket.”
Akhtar thinks that a little bit of violence and conflict can make the sport more interesting. He said that fights and battles are usual in sports like ice hockey and football, and that cricket could use the same fierce spirit.
Shoaib Akhtar Recalls An Incident Where He Fought With Matthew Hayden With Knife And Fork
Shoaib Akhtar then told a great story about former Australia starter Matthew Hayden from when he was a player. He remembered, “Matthew Hayden and I once picked a knife and a fork against each other at breakfast. Both of them are ready to fight. “Thank God my trainer stepped in. If not, Hayden would have turned me into chutney,” Akhtar said with a laugh.
This shows how tough cricket players used to be in the past, when they weren’t afraid to get physical with their opponents if they had to. Even though Shoaib Akhtar was critical of the current game, he had a lot of respect for some of the new pace bowlers. He praised Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Jasprit Bumrah, pointing out their ability and promise. Akhtar stressed that he evaluates these young bowlers in many ways, including how likely they are to get injured and how long they can keep playing.
He noticed a technical flaw in Mark Wood’s follow-through that might be slowing him down. Still, he thought Wood was an interesting talent and praised him and Chris Woakes for what they had done for the sport.
Shoaib Akhtar didn’t avoid talking about Jasprit Bumrah’s current problems with injuries. He said that Bumrah’s unique bowling style, which involves a short run-up, would always make it hard for him to stay consistent and avoid getting injured Akhtar said that he had seen these problems coming from the start, but he praised Bumrah for his commitment to the game.
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Akhtar had a lot of good things to say about Shaheen Shah Afridi in terms of Pakistan‘s fast bowler ability at the time. He called him a “great asset” and talked about how well he was doing in the Asia Cup, where Afridi has taken the second-most wickets. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf all bowl fast, and the three of them are becoming known as one of the best bowling threats in all of cricket.
Shoaib Akhtar’s thoughts give a unique look at how fast bowling has changed over time and how the game of cricket is changing. Even though he wants a bit of anger and conflict to come back, he also knows and respects the skills of the new breed of pacers who are making a name for themselves in the sport.
