Shami sought advice, not Pak bowlers: Shoaib Akhtar

In cricket, Pakistan have always been synonymous with legendary pace bowlers—Sarfraz Nawaz, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar... the list is long. Former great Akhtar is, however, sad that the new crop of Pakistani fast bowlers do not approach former pacers like him for advice and tips, but pacers from other countries do.

Akhtar had congratulated Shami in a video on his YouTube channel for his brilliant performance in the Visakhapatnam Test against South Africa—5/35 in 10.5 overs in the second innings. The 44-year-old also revealed that the Indian pacer had called him to seek advice on his bowling after the 50-over World Cup in England, where India lost in the semifinal against New Zealand.

“After India's (50-over) World Cup disappointment, Shami called me up one day and said he was feeling sad that he could not do well for India. I told him not to lose heart but maintain fitness. I told him that the home series is coming and you will do well.

"I told Shami that I want him to become a tearaway pacer, running through batting line-ups. He has seam and swing, besides that he has reverse swing which very few bowlers in the subcontinent have. I told him you can become king of reverse swing.

"Now, you see what he has done, he has got wickets from a docile pitch (in Visakhapatnam). I am very happy for him," Akhtar said in the 10-minute long video.”

He said he is ready to help this own countrymen but they haven't yet approached him for advice or tips. “Sadly, our Pakistani fast bowlers don't ask me how they can improve their bowling. Nobody from the team has ever called me up to seek tips on how to increase your pace, arm-speed, run-up.... .

“It is a sad scenario as far as my country is concerned.”

The tearaway fast bowler represented Pakistan in 46 Tests and 163 ODIs and took 178 and 247 wickets respectively.

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