Legendary Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram has advised Team India’s Arshdeep Singh to take inspiration from Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi’s new-ball bowling style during the 2024 T20 World Cup. Akram believes that pitching the ball at a fuller length will be advantageous on the West Indian pitches in the Super 8 round.
Akram suggested that Arshdeep should focus on bowling full and keeping the mid-on and mid-off fielders straighter. This positioning ensures that even if Arshdeep misses his mark, these fielders can stop the boundary. For his second spell, Akram recommended relying on variations.
Speaking exclusively on Sportskeeda’s Match ki Baat, Akram said:
“He (Arshdeep) will get some help with the new ball in West Indies. The pitches aren’t very flat like we’ve seen in the IPL or Pakistan. He can take a chance with the new ball and pitch it up. Bowl like Shaheen Afridi.
“He can try that. Keep the mid-on and mid-off a bit straighter, so even if he misses the mark with the yorker, the two fielders can stop the straight shots. For his second spell, he should be using variations.”
Arshdeep Singh has been in impressive form during the 2024 T20 World Cup. With 10 wickets from four games, he is currently the leading wicket-taker for the Men in Blue in the tournament.
“I Hope He Has Test Cricket in His Mind” – Wasim Akram on Arshdeep Singh
In the video, Wasim Akram also discussed Arshdeep Singh’s potential to excel in red-ball cricket. Akram emphasized the importance of Test cricket and expressed hope that the Indian bowler is also keen on playing the longest format.
Akram stated that Arshdeep must look to play Test cricket if he wants to leave a lasting legacy. The 58-year-old added:
“I think he’s very impressive and talented. He should be focusing on four-day cricket too because he can swing the ball both ways and also has pace. He can bring the new ball back in quite decently. I saw him two years back in Dubai.
“While I’ve not seen him very closely recently, I think he’s got the potential to be a regular bowler for India, and I hope he has Test cricket in his mind. You can earn money and be famous for a year in T20s, but if you want to leave a legacy behind, you will have to think of the longest format.”
Arshdeep Singh will be seen in action on Saturday, June 22, when India takes on Bangladesh in the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup in Antigua.
