Pakistan's former Test cricketer Sikander Bakht suffered massive criticism after he stated that fast bowlers should look aggressive on the field.
While speaking to GeoSuper.tv, Sikander took a dig at current lot of national fast bowlers and said pacers should have dangerous looks.
His statement sparked controversy and people shared his picture from his playing days and said the latter also didn't look dangerous at that time.
While responding to massive criticism, Sikander said he meant to say that courtesy hugs and smiles should be restricted to off the field.
"Yes, I was also having innocent looks during my playing days. But, I used to irritate batters with words," he said.
"I learned this from Australia. We went there for the first time and as soon as we entered the ground, players started sledging, it is their way to put opposition under pressure. I adopted this thing from there and you won't believe it, a couple of times during first-class cricket, opposition batters came to our dressing room to beat me because I irritated them with words while bowling," he recalled.
The cricketer-turned-analyst shared that they even used to have fun and courtesy talks with Indian players but only outside the ground. "Against India, we used to have heated moments on the ground. Outside the ground, we had a fun time at dinner and everywhere," he said.
"I will stick to my point, fast bowlers should be aggressive. Courtesy hugs and handshakes should be done only in the dressing room. Batters are scoring runs against you and you are smiling, that's unacceptable to me,
"Yes, If you hit someone while bowling, then just go to the batter as a courtesy. Otherwise, there is no need," he concluded.
Muzamil Asif- Naseem Shah