Shoaib Akhtar slams ICC, ‘You named an IPL team not world XI’

Former Pakistani spacer Shoaib Akthar along with other countrymen has slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for not including a single Pakistan player in their T20I team of the decade.

It was on Sunday when ICC announced its T20 team of the decade that not include any single Pakistani player notwithstanding Babar Azam, who is currently the number one batsman in the ICC T20I rankings.

In the team, four players are from India, two are from Australia, two from West Indies, one from Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Afghanistan.

The ICC T20I team of the decade features Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, and Jasprit Bumrah in its T20I Team of the Decade.

While MS Dhoni has also been named as the skipper of the ICC’s T20I Team of the Decade.

 

In a video shared on Shoaib Akhtar’s YouTube channel, the former fast bowler said:

“They did not pick a single player from Pakistan in the team. We don’t need your (ICC) T20I Team of the Decade because you announced the IPL team, not a world cricket team.”

“I think ICC forgot that Pakistan is also a member of ICC and they also play T20I cricket. They did not pick Babar Azam, who is currently the number one batsman in the ICC T20I rankings.”

Shoaib went on to criticize the international cricket body by adding, “ICC only thinks about money, sponsorships and TV rights. They introduced two new balls and three powerplays (in the ODI cricket). Where is Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, the big five of West Indies, Wasim (Akram), and Waqar (Younis)? Where are the world’s fastest bowlers and leg-spinners? They went away because ICC commercialised and materialised cricket so much and allowed ten leagues to earn more revenue”.

“They just want two World Cups in three years and leagues. ….There is a big difference between today’s cricket and in 70’s cricket. If there is no Sachin vs Shoaib then what’s the point of watching cricket? There is no big player than Babar Azam in T20I. He is a top-scorer for Pakistan and his averages show what he has done for the country, even in comparison with Virat Kohli. It is so embarrassing and I’m sure after this video they will think that they have to announce the World Team of the Decade, not the IPL team,” he concluded.