Published: Feb 04, 2016, 12:15 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 04, 2016, 12:22 PM (IST)
Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar thinks that Indian bowlers should be made to spend at least ‘six weeks’ with Wasim Akram and current Pakistan coach Waqar Younis, in order to polish their bowling skills. Akhtar is of the opinion that Indian seamers do not know how to bowl with the old ball, and it was Zaheer Khan who actually knew his job the best till the time he was around. Talking about the present state of Indian seam bowling, Akhtar says that they need to learn lot many things in order to eke out their shortcomings that get exposed frequently. ALSO READ: VVS Laxman: India’s T20I series win in Australia sets them on course to World T20
In an interview to the Times of India, Akhtar said, “The problem is simple. Indian pacers don’t know what to do with the old ball. They can’t reverse. As it is, so many new rules has tilted the balance against the bowlers and in the given space, it’s been a challenge for a pace bowler to constantly keep adapting. And if you’re not willing to learn very quickly and adapt, you’re going to be left behind. Zaheer Khan had reached that stage when he was enjoying bowling with the new and the old ball and while he was around, he did a great job for India. It’s good to see (Ashish) Nehra back but that aside, what else?”
Akhtar continued, “Well, the Indian pacers should be made to spend six weeks with Wasim [Akram] and Waqar [Younis]. They need to learn the finer nuances at the international level. There are two kinds of bowlers, ones who bowl their heart out and the ones who use their brains. I was the first kind. I didn’t have to learn to bowl like a lion because the lion was inside me, inspiring me since I was a kid who would watch Imran Khan take the field and bowl his heart out. The current Indian bowlers do not know how to reverse. They just don’t know what to do with a ball that has lost shine.” ALSO READ: India’s recent wins in Australia flag-off exciting times
Akhtar continued, “Jasprit Bumrah has made a very impressive start to his career and certainly looks like he brings a lot of qualities. Otherwise, this Indian attack has been struggling with injuries. Mohd Shami had to pull out, Varun Aaron is unavailable. There’s just Ishant, who has struggled to move on to the next level.”
The former Pakistan tearaway pacer claimed that Ravichandran Ashwin is the best off-spinner in the world cricket presently. He said, “To me, R Ashwin is the best off-spinner in the world. He’s ahead of the rest by a distance. He’s an intelligent bowler, always looking to improvise and if conditions assist his style, he’s shown how dangerous he can be. With Ravindra Jadeja, the two make a fine pair. When I say Ashwin is the best right now, it’s because of how he’s constantly developing as an off-spinner.”
Akhtar, who has been working in India as a television expert and cricket commentator, said that on the current form India are a tough side to beat. He said, “India have been playing some exciting cricket and it’s good to see the way youngsters are settling in. I’m looking forward to the Asia Cup. India, in present form, are certainly the team to beat. I was watching the series against Australia and though the (ODI) results didn’t go India’s way, there was so much potential in the batting. The bowlers struggled but that’s also because of the injuries I guess.”
