ICC should allow fast bowlers to let loose, says Shoaib Akhtar

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has called on the International Cricket Board (ICC) not to tame fast-bowlers with unnecessary rules and regulations.

Speaking on a TV show, Akhtar said, "When you are bowling so fast; you are sweating, and huffing and puffing, your heart beat is above average, what does the ICC expect from the bowler at that time? How should he react?"

"Obviously, he is bowling his fourth over, he gets hit for a boundary, then there is pressure, he might be making a comeback; so, you have to let loose. You have to allow some freedom to him," the 41-year-old was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.

Emphasizing that bowling of 1970s and 1980s is still remembered because there were less laws and the game had raw aggression in it, the 41-year-old said, "Why does everyone reminisce the bowling of 70s and 80s? Why do they still talk about the bowling of our legends? It is remembered because they were fighting in the middle. It was character versus character, match-winner versus match-winner. There were fewer laws to restrict them."

His team-mate and legendary pacer Wasim Akram, who was also an analyst in the show, then summarised his claims by saying that a pacer cannot be tamed.

"He (pacer) is not a pet animal who will obey your orders. He is a fast-bowler; he will react to a batsman's actions. It is the beauty of the game; it is the beauty of being a fast-bowler. You run in, you get hit for a four, you stare at the batsman, you then have a go at him and that is the fun of being a fast-bowler," Akram said.

The former left-arm pacer also believes that bowlers in the present time have become bowling machines.