“He has got the potential”: Wasim Akram urges Arshdeep Singh to focus on playing Test cricket to leave legacy

Akram lauded Arshdeep's stunning display in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup.

Arshdeep Singh | Getty

Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram has lauded young India pacer Arshdeep Singh’s stunning display in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup.

Arshdeep finished the tournament as the joint-highest wicket-taker, alongside Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi, with 17 scalps to his name, helping India lift the coveted trophy.

The left-arm quick formed a lethal pace attack with Jasprit Bumrah, who was adjudged Player-of-the-Tournament.

In an exclusive chat with Sportskeeda, Akram shared his views on Arshdeep, urging the latter to focus on playing longest format of the game.

"If you have to leave a legacy, you have to think about long-format cricket. People should be talking about you even 10-20 years after your retirement that no such bowler came in cricket history. These young bowlers should have that kind of mindset. No doubt, he has got the potential. I would give him eight," Akram opined.

"Very impressive, very talented. He should be focusing on four-day cricket too because he has swing and pace. He swings the ball both ways and the new ball comes in decently. I think he has got the potential to be a regular bowler for India. I hope he has Test cricket on his mind because you will make money in T20s and you will make your name for one year in T20s," he added.

Arshdeep Singh’s heroics in the T20 World Cup 2024 saw him getting included in ICC’s team of the tournament. Besides Arshdeep, five other Indian players were picked in that team, including Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Akshar Patel, Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah.

Arshdeep Singh is likely to return to action during the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka later this month.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 07 Jul, 2024

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