Indian team has no depth in its bowling attack: Shoaib Akhtar

New Delhi: Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has criticised the Indian bowling attack terming it as a unit that "lacks depth" as the only wicket-taking bowler is off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

"There is no depth in the bowling attack. Once Ashwin bowls his quota of four overs, there isn't anyone who could run through opposition batsmen. They don't even have the fast bowlers to run through the batting line-up. Indian team's drawback is fast bowling and the second spinner," Akhtar told 'ABP News' on India's T20 series defeat against South Africa.

"With Mohammed Shami unfit and Umesh Yadav not selected, they didn't have any inspiration. The Indian team I believe needs to change their approach towards how they play T20 cricket and Dhoni should check the combinations that he is trying out. Ajinkya Rahane should play instead of Ambati Rayudu," said the fearsome fast bowler of yesteryears.

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Akhtar also believes that the timing of the T20 matches has been a deterrent and has gone a long way towards India losing the first two matches.

"I believe they could have altered the timing of the matches which would have suited them and perhaps the result could have been different. I believe if they play three spinners during ODIs which is their strength, they would win the ODI series," said Akhtar.

Akhtar also condemned the crowd behaviour at Cuttack on Monday. "I can understand the anger amongst fans and I am not saying that it is not justified when your team plays that badly. But throwing bottles is no way to vent your anger. Indian cricket has an image and these kind of incidents sends a very wrong message to the cricket community," he concluded.