Shoaib Akhtar’s advice worked for me: Shami

Crediting Shoaib Akhtar for bringing back rhythm in his bowling, Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has said the former Pakistan speedster advised him to shorten his run-up, which has helped him increase his pace.

“The recent change in run-up has surely increased my pace. So I am continuing with it and hoping that it pays rich dividends. I did have a chat with Shoaib (Akhtar) bhai and he suggested that I should reduce my big strides. So shortened my stride and it has worked. It (the new run-up) is smooth and comfortable and it has also increased my pace,” Shami said.

Shami, who returned to action against West Indies after missing a game due to a niggle, bagged three wickets at the WACA to help table-toppers India register their fourth straight win and book a quarterfinal berth from pool B. With the Men in Blue now in New Zealand for their final two games of the league, Shami is keen to carry on the good work without making any more changes to his action. “I don’t want to change much in my action. And most of the ex-players have advised me against making any major changes to my action. It is always a double edged sword, to change one’s action. 

It can work for you or go against you. I don’t want go through this confusion and I am satisfied with the little change that I have made to my run-up,” I do not want to make much changes to my action or strategy in New Zealand as well,” he said.