E-Paper
Be positive, Sarfraz tells Sami
Pioneer of reverse swing bowling, Sarfraz has asked Sami to be more positive and attack the stumps to make any impact on India-Pak series.
After tips from Imran Khan, low-on-confidence Pakistani paceman Mohammed Sami has received advice from Sarfraz Nawaz, widely regarded as the pioneer of reverse-swing bowling.
Nawaz has advised the seamer to adopt a more positive approach towards bowling and attack the stumps more with the new ball.
"I don't think he can emerge as a wicket-taking bowler unless he adopts a more positive approach towards bowling at the highest level. He's the sort of bowler who tends to bowl outside the off stump with the new ball," the former Pakistan fast bowler said.
"Sami bowls outside the off stump to avoid getting punished by the batsmen. Unless he makes full use of the new ball and bowls within the stumps and tries to introduce variety in his bowling, he can never become a match winner," Sarfraz was quoted as saying by local daily 'The News'.
"His approach is to see off the new ball and try and take wickets with the old ball by using the art of reverse swing. His approach is totally negative. When you bowl five out of six deliveries outside the off stump, the batsmen get used to your bowling and unless he commits a mistake you cannot get him out."
Sarfraz, who had even taught Imran Khan the nuances of fast bowling before the latter went on to become a legend, also advised Sami -- with 65 wickets to his credit in 24 Tests -- to spend few days with any of the renowned Pakistan fast bowlers in order to gain from their experience.
