Busy playing all three forms of the game, Jasprit Bumrah doesn't need to "run after county cricket" in the UK, reckons legendary Wasim Akram, himself once a Lancashire pro, who offered a word of healthy advise to the Indian speedster.
Bumrah has been outstanding for India in both Tests and limited-overs versions of the international game, as well as when he turns up for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the annual Indian Premier League (IPL).
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"Cricket has become too much today. A guy like Bumrah being a top bowler, India no 1, I would have suggested him to relax and not run after county cricket. Young players need to play more first-class cricket, from there they will learn bowling," said Wasim, inarguably one of the game's greatest-ever fast bowlers, on former India batsman Aakash Chopra's youtube channel.
But it wouldn't do Bumrah too much harm if he is to play some games in the County Championship ahead of India's next Test tour of England in 2021.
"T20 is amazing, good entertainment; there's plenty of money involved and I'm all in for the importance of money in a sport and the players."
"(But) they (bowlers) won't learn bowling from T20. I don't judge a player by T20 performance, I judge them from their performances in the longer version of cricket," said Wasim, making a larger point.
Recalling his initial days at the highest level, Wasim said he didn't at the time realise how good he is.
"When I came in the team as a youngster I used to listen to Imran (Khan) bhai, Javed (Miandad) bhai, Mudassar Nazar say that this kid has talent but that time I didn't understand what they were trying to say," he said. "Then I asked Imran Khan and he said your pace is deceptive and swing the ball and then I started to work on those areas."
"Nothing comes easy was one advice which I learnt from all these three players all though their ways were different. As a bowler, our job is to create doubts in the minds of the batsmen. I enjoyed the tag that I am talented," added Wasim.
(Inputs from PTI)
