Wasim Akram calls tenacity as the key to Mohd Shami's success

Former Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram was in all praise for Indian pacer Mohammad Shami. Shami has been the leading bowler for India ever since he made his debut against Pakistan a couple of years ago. He has come a long way since then. He emerged as the leading wicket-taker for India in the 2015 ICC World Cup.

In the Tests too, he has been a revelation with the reverse swing. Wasim Akram, who was a great component of reverse swing himself, recently talked about the Indian pacer. He commended the way Mohammad Shami is shaping up. Akram mentioned how Shami was a determined bowler when he met him.

Shami was a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. He was with the franchise from 2011 to 2013. Akram was the coach of the side. The duo met there and Shami took no time to grasp a trick or two from the master himself. The way Shami knocked down the stumps of Alastair Cook recently is only a testimony of the same.

Wasim Akram rightly pointed out the tenacity to be one of the key strengths of Shami. He recalled how Shami ran in with the same intensity even after a rigorous bowling session in the nets. He cited that Shami never refused to bowl and often bowled only at the stumps.

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“The key strength in Shami I noticed after meeting with him for the first time at the nets of KKR was his tenacity. Naturally, he never used to give up. Even after the end of scheduled training at the KKR nets, sometimes I used to ask Shami whether he would like to continue bowling. And despite being exhausted after a rigorous practice session, Shami never refused. I can remember that I used to stand behind the wickets and he used to continue bowling only towards the stumps,” quoted Wasim Akram.

Mohammad Shami, at a very young age, had moved to the academy of his first coach Badruddin. He recalled how Shami looked like a determined student ever since he first saw him. Badruddin also mentioned that it was Wasim Akram who taught Shami the art of reverse swing.

“Wasim Akram is the man who taught him about the tricks of reverse swing. Shami had also determination and he got a teacher like Akram. His father brought him to my coaching centre. And on the very first day I could realise that Shami has a special talent as he was bowling at a great speed right from the beginning,” he said.