Wasim Akram, the Pakistan pace bowling legend, lavished rich praise on India’s Mohammad Shami for his performances in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023. Shami, despite playing only four games, has 16 wickets to his name with two fifers.
He was rested for the first four games as India opted to have Hardik Pandya as the all-rounder. But after Pandya injured his ankle against Bangladesh, the team management opted to bring in Shami into the XI, instead of using Shardul Thakur.
Mohammad Shami gave them instant results as he picked 5/54 against New Zealand, 4/22 against England, and 5/18 against Sri Lanka. In India’s recent CWC 2023 encounter against South Africa, Shami picked 2/18 in Kolkata.
Decoding Shami's strengths and what has been working for him in this World Cup, fast-bowling legend and former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram said it's all about the seam position.
"For starters, as a bowler, the confidence at this level has got to be like 'I am one of the best', and these guys (Indian pacers) have that confidence. Once you have that, then all the hard work you have done over the years (pays off)," said Akram speaking on the news channel 'A Sports'.
"Shami's every delivery hits the seam, it's not wobbly, just goes straight and kisses the pitch. He doesn't bang the ball in," explained Akram.
Akram detailed Shami's skills further looking at the footage of his over against Ben Stokes in India's match against England.
He said: "Stokes had no clue what to do. Look at his length, came around the wicket to seam (the ball) out, and then the last ball he brought in. But his length and seam position never changed, off-stump or top of off-stump. Wahi se andar, wahi se bahar (moving the ball in and out from the same spot). That's why he is so difficult.”
Comparing Shami's art to swing and seam the ball with that of Bumrah's, Akram said: "Bumrah swings with his wrist, Shami with seam; and obviously he has got good pace as well, 142-145 kmph."
The bowling icon also expressed his displeasure with juvenile social media comments about Indian bowlers receiving different balls than other countries in the 2023 World Cup.
"This gets quite embarrassing for us. One thing we have to teach the social media generation is that if someone is doing a good thing, then appreciate it, don't do nit-picking,” Akram signed off.
India will face Netherlands in their last league game of CWC 2023 on November 12 in Bengaluru.
