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Shoaib says free hit law is nonsense
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July 12, 2007 21:12 IST

Pakistan's fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar [Images] has described as nonsense the free hit experimental law to be enforced in one-day internationals from October 1 this year.

The International Cricket Council last month agreed to penalise bowlers for sending down a no-ball by allowing the batsman to take a free hit off the next ball without being dismissed in one-dayers.

The law will be tested on an experimental basis and is already allowed in a different form in Twenty20 cricket.

"I don't support this law because already life is tough for the bowlers. It is nonsense. Why make it more difficult us," Akhtar told reporters in the Pakistan camp on Thursday.

He said they already had to bowl on flat pitches and had the rules loaded against them.

"Why put more pressure on them (bowlers) with such laws that give the full advantage to the batsmen," he added.

He said the free hit law was fine for Twenty20 cricket, which was not really that serious, but not meant for one-dayers which are a more competitive brand of cricket.

Akhtar also said he was keen to make an impact in Sepotember's Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa if selected because he was making a comeback after a long time.

Akhtar was picked in Pakistan's squad for two one-day games in Scotland this month which were rained off. "It was very frustrating not being able to play cricket at all," he said.




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