Shoiab Akhtar has slammed the ICC for ignoring Pakistan players in its T20I XI of the decade. He further said that it looks more like an IPL XI rather than a World T20I Xi without the best players included in the XI. The ICC recently named its Test, ODI and T20I XI of the decade.
No Pakistan found their name in any of the ICC squads which became the talking point after cricket’s apex body announced the three teams. In the light of this, Shoaib Akhtar thus slammed the ICC for being partial in its selection of the T20I squad while speaking about it in his YouTube channel. The former pace spearhead slammed the governing body for picking an IPL team.
“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,” Akhtar said on his official YouTube channel.
Also Read: MS Dhoni Named Captain Of ICC’s ODI & T20 Team Teams Of The Decade
ICC Forgot That Pakistan Also Plays T20I Cricket: Shoaib Akhtar
Shoaib Akhtar further said that the ICC perhaps forgot that the ICC forgot that Pakistan is a cricket playing nation as well. He further criticised them for not picking Babar Azam in the T20I XI, who is the number one ranked T20I batsman at the moment.
“I think ICC forgot that Pakistan is also a member of ICC and they play T20I cricket as well.. They did not pick Babar Azam, who is currently the number one batsman in the ICC T20I rankings.
MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah make up the four Indians in the playing XI. Universe Boss Chris Gayle is the other opener alongside Rohit, Aaron Finch has been slotted in at number three followed by Virat at four. AB De Villiers and Glenn Maxwell slots in at five and six. Skipper MS Dhoni will bat at number seven. Windies power-hitter Kieron Pollard has been placed at number 8 as the other all-round option alongside Maxwell.
Also Read: 5 Potential Candidates Who Can Replace Ravi Shastri As Team India’s Head Coach
ICC’s T20I Team of the Decade: Rohit Sharma, Chris Gayle, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, MS Dhoni (c), Kieron Pollard, Rashid Khan, Jasprit Bumrah, and Lasith Malinga.