Former Pakistan captain and legendary pacer Wasim Akram recalled his brief stint with Mohammed Shami during their time at Kolkata Knight Riders together which left Akram impressed with the Bengal pacer.
Akram made an unheard revelation that Shami was keen to join his family in politics in Uttar Pradesh but eventually decided to focus only on his cricket.
Wasim Akram was the bowling coach of KKR in 2011-12 when a young, inexperienced Shami had moved from Uttar Pradesh to Bengal in 2010 in domestic cricket. Akram recalled that Shami used to drop and pick him up from the airport and wanted to spend as much time as possible with him to learn about fast bowling.
“I don’t remember the exact year, must be 2011-12 maybe, a young kid who was playing first-class from Bengal because I think he is not from Bengal, he lives…I forgot his city’s name. He (Mohammed Shami) told me he comes from a political family, who are involved in local politics, and he was very eager,” said Wasim Akram.
“I remember that when my kids were young and I had to take a break of 2-3 days to return to Pakistan and meet them, he came to drop me off at the airport and also received me when I returned. He said, ‘I wanted to spend time with you’, he, Kuldeep, SKY all these guys were very young and very eager to learn.”
We are proud of you Mohammed Shami: Wasim Akram
Heading into the final of the World Cup 2023, Mohammed Shami is the leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets in only 6 matches. In the semi-final, he picked up a 7-wicket haul against New Zealand, recording the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler in ODI history.
Akram hailed the hard work Shami has put into his bowling and his cricket over the past decade-and-half that has brought him so much success, especially in the last few years.
“Whatever Shami is today is because of his own hard work. If he learned something from me then credit him for how much he was hungry. He used to ask questions regarding batting and bowling then I said ‘You should not leave training when I will be gone for three days, I’ll return and check’. So whatever he has achieved till now is absolutely his hard work and his mind. So well done, we are proud of you Shami,” Akram concluded.
