Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan is to give paceman Mohammad Sami specialist one-to-one coaching.
Imran will take Sami under his wing before the home Test series against India in January, with the 24-year-old struggling for form and confidence.
Sami has taken only 65 wickets in 24 Tests at an average of 46.12 and his place has come under threat.
“Imran is very concerned Sami has not yet fulfilled his potential,” said Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Sami took eight wickets in his debut Test against New Zealand in Auckland in 2001 and also claimed hat-tricks against Sri Lanka and West Indies during a promising start to his career.
But he has since found life hard in the Test arena and failed to produce consistent performances.
Imran will work with Sami to see what is holding him back
Inzamam-ul-Haq
The Karachi-born right-armer claimed only seven victims as Pakistan beat England 2-0 in the recent Test series.
He was overshadowed by the exploits of Shoaib Akhtar, who finished as the leading wicket-taker and caused England problems by varying his pace.
"Imran has said that when we have our training camp for the Indian series he will come down and work with Sami to see what is the problem holding him back.
“Imran believes that if Sami can start producing the performances that he has been threatening to do with his vast potential then Pakistan will have a very balanced bowling attack for Tests and one-dayers.”
just another way Imran is serving his country. its nice to see him helping sami out, i think with sami its more mental becuse the talent is their. Inshallah sami will learn and do justice to his potential
A ray of hope for Sami: Imran to give struggling Sami a shot in the arm
Imran Khan, the Pakistan legend, is to give Mohammad Sami, the fast bowler, specialist one-on-one coaching ahead of a home Test series against India in January, according to Inzamam-ul-Haq.
“Imran is very concerned Sami has not yet fulfilled his potential,” Inzamam-ul-Haq told BBC Sport. “Imran has said that when we have our training camp for the Indian series he will come down and work with Sami to see what is the problem holding him back.”
Sami, 24, has been struggling for form and confidence, and a record of only 65 wickets at 46.12 from 24 Tests has put his place in the national side under considerable threat. Sami burst onto the international scene with eight wickets in his debut Test against New Zealand in Auckland in 2001, and also claimed hat-tricks against Sri Lanka and West Indies during a promising start to his career.
Since then, though, he has failed to live up to his reputation and has been tagged as inconsistent. In the recent three-Test series against a touring England, Sami managed only seven wickets. Shoaib Akhtar, who has faced similar criticism though being a proven matchwinner, silenced his detractors with a stunning 17-wicket haul in the series. Consistently troubling England with variations of pace, Akhtar emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the series.
It is with optimism - and the desire to see Sami perform like Akhtar - that Inzamam has stated Imran’s intentions. “Imran believes that if Sami can start producing the performances that he has been threatening to do with his vast potential then Pakistan will have a very balanced bowling attack for Tests and one-dayers.”
Great move by Khan saab. Would have been nice if this step were taken an year or two ago. Other past greats should take heed, and work on other underperforming talents.
Re: A ray of hope for Sami: Imran to give struggling Sami a shot in the arm
Sami is a gifted cricketer, he has great pace but he lacks variety.
At times he gets too predictable with his line and pace.
That where Shoaib and Rana excel, they bowl slower balls, they mix up their length.
Sami is too flat of a bowler, and until he develops variety in his bowling, he won't progress.
Mohammad Sami, the Pakistan fast bowler, has said he would play against India with a positive outlook and the will to prove his critics wrong that his temperament was not suited for international cricket. Sami, 24, said while carrying out bowling exercises advised to him by former Pakistan captain and great Imran Khan on Friday that he had been boosted with the positive remarks about him made by Imran. “It has not been easy for me. People tend to look at my averages but don’t see how many Tests I have played abroad or at home on generally batting tracks. They don’t see the number of times luck has simply not supported even some good wicket taking balls,” he said.
But Sami said he had always been encouraged and supported by his captain, coach and teammates and Imran’s visit to pass on some advice to him had come as a big confidence booster for him before the series against India. “It is a big series for me, no doubt about that. I know there are expectations from me and I need to take more wickets. But I have had some good spells and after some tips passed on by Imran I am positive about the coming series,” Sami said while targeting one stump with the new ball.
Imran specially visited the Pakistan camp at the National Cricket Academy here on Friday and spent over an hour working with Sami, whose selection has been criticised by many critics and some former players who point out to his Test bowling average of 46. Sami has taken 65 wickets in 24 Tests and another 74 in 105 One-day Internationals. Sami said getting advice from Imran had come as a big help and he learnt one or two new things from the former fast bowler. “But he made it clear to me what line of attack I should adopt and spoke about the importance of being disciplined in the basics of fast bowling,” he added.
Sami said he was looking forward to the Tests against India despite their strong batting line-up. “I am preparing myself for the challenge because they have some quality batsmen. But I am confident because I have bowled a lot to them in the last two years and I have got a feel of their individual batting traits at the crease.”
