Akhtar slams ICC over Test Jerseys

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for changing the design of the Test jerseys that now include the name and number of the respective players.

The new jerseys are currently being used in the ongoing 2019 Ashes series that is played between England and Australia.

The Rawalpindi Express took to twitter to highlight how the new jerseys took away the traditional spirit of the game.

“Player's name and number on the white Test Match kit looks awful. Should not be there. Takes away from the traditional spirit in which the game is played. This decision should be reversed,” Akhtar wrote.

Player's name & number on the white Test Match kit looks awful. Should not be there. Takes away from the traditional spirit in which the game is played. This decision should be reversed. #TestCricket #Tradition

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) August 4, 2019

Akhtar was not alone in his assessment. Many other players were critical of the new design as well.

Australia’s former pacer Brett Lee vented out his frustration with the new jerseys which he described as being ‘ridiculous’.

“For what it’s worth I’m strongly against the players numbers & names appearing on the back of test cricket shirts! I think it looks ridiculous. I love the changes you’ve made to cricket in general, but on this occasion you’ve got it wrong,” Lee wrote.

For what it’s worth I’m strongly against the players numbers & names appearing on the back of test cricket shirts!
I think it looks ridiculous. @ICC I love the changes you’ve made to cricket in general, but on this occasion you’ve got it wrong. #tradition #cleanskin #nonames

— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) August 2, 2019