Shoaib Akhtar's bouncers made Sachin Tendulkar fearful during 2006 Test: Mohammad Asif

Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar is widely regarded as one of fastest bowlers to have ever graced game. An active member of Pakistani pace department between 1997 and 2011, ‘Rawalpindi Express’ bagged 444 wickets across his 224 international appearances. Even post-retirement, 44-year old strongly opines his views on trending cricketing affairs eir through his YouTube channel or interviews and podcasts. Quite recently, Shoaib Akhtar left a scathing and constructed criticism towards International Cricket Council (ICC) during an online chat with Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar.

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Shoaib Akhtar slams ICC for making cricket batsman-friendly

In an interview with ESPNCricinfo, Shoaib Akhtar said that he believes ICC has “successfully finished cricket” during course of last 10 years. pacer criticised ICC’s growing batsmen-friendly rules including field restrictions and us of two new balls in ODIs. Shoaib Akhtar, whose rivalry with Sachin Tendulkar was widely ackwledged and popularised by fans, also felt that apex body should increase number of bouncers per over for bowlers. He was of opinion that quality of cricket has gone down in past few years because of ICC, which is why re are ‘Sachin Tendulkar versus Shoaib Akhtar’ contests for fans anymore.

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Mohammad Asif talks on Shoaib Akhtar vs Sachin Tendulkar battle

In an interview with Pakistani show Burgerz, Akhtar's former teammate Mohammad Asif was back at his controversial best by claiming that he saw fear and helplessness in Sachin Tendulkar's eyes as 'he closed m' when Shoaib Akhtar bowled bouncers at him constantly during a Test match in Pakistan in 2006. It was a way for Asif to laud Akhtar's pace at time.

In his interview, Akhtar lauded Asif in return for his delivery that bamboozled VVS Laxman in same series. This made Akhtar claim that latter is best example for fast bowlers around world to learn skill, more than any or great in game.

However, recently Akhtar lauded Sachin Tendulkar, calling him 'best batsman' and wanted him to get a hundred in 2003 World Cup game at Centurion, which India famously won after Tendulkar was dismissed on 98 off Pakistani's bowling.

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