Mohammad Sami signs for Kent

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**Mohammad Sami signs for Kent **

Wisden CricInfo staff - June 3, 2003

The Pakistani fast bowler, Mohammad Sami, has signed as Kent’s second overseas player on a two-month contract. Sami, 22, will replace the Australian batsman Greg Blewett when Pakistan complete their three-match NatWest Challenge series against England later this month.

Blewett, who has been standing in for his compatriot Andrew Symonds during Australia’s tour of the Caribbean, will continue to deputise for Sami in the short term.

Pakistan’s international schedule has enabled Sami to join Kent on an eight-week deal - after which the club will review their overseas player policy for the rest of the season.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd

Good to see Sami taking up the offer while keeping in mind his commitement to Pakistan cricket team.

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A whole lot of Pakistani cricketers playing county cricket this year

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:up: thanku for leting me know :stuck_out_tongue:

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Thank u :hoonh:

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That’s great news... Sami's skills will be polished by spending some time playing in the county cricket circuit. He is very raw at this time, and this is a perfect occurrence for his career. We must also be thankful to experienced and established Pakistani players of past and present in the county circuit such as Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Asif Iqbal and Majid Khan etc. who have played a major role in recommending their fellow Pakistani teammates to the county cricket teams.

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Once again county cricket is ruining another talented bowler's career, first Wasim, then Waqar, then Razzaq, Shoaib, Saqi, and now Sami.

He will become like the rest and would be greedy.

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I don't like Pakistani players playing for English counties. They shouldn't be allowed to play in county cricket in cricket season.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by UMAIR316: *
Once again county cricket is ruining another talented bowler's career, first Wasim, then Waqar, then Razzaq, Shoaib, Saqi, and now Sami.

He will become like the rest and would be greedy.
[/QUOTE]

Can you give us examples as to how Wasim's and Waqar's career were ruined by playing in counties.

Shoaib has never played for a county.

The counties had polished players like Imran, Wasim and Waqar and they owe a lot to the county cricket. Ask Imran.

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this has to be the best thing to happen with pakistan cricket in last few months… SA touring this winter watch out for SAmi… :kaboom:

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ehsan: *

Can you give us examples as to how Wasim's and Waqar's career were ruined by playing in counties.

Shoaib has never played for a county.

The counties had polished players like Imran, Wasim and Waqar and they owe a lot to the county cricket. Ask Imran.
[/QUOTE]

If you go down memory lane to 1997 when Pakistan won world series in Australia defeating Australia and Windies, and then whitewashing West Indies 3-0 at home (including Lara, Ambrose, Walsh in the team) What do our 2 fast bowlers do, they go off to county cricket in England, play there for a while and instead of resting and recharging their batteries, they comeback and have never been the same force since, I think that was the time both Ws bowling performance went down, Wasim was 30 and Waqar was in his mid 20s, still very young. They haven't been the same since.

Back in the days of Imran, county cricket was very beneficial because cricket wasn't played as much it has been played since mid 90s, each team would have a tour every couple months unlike these days.

Sami who has hectic schedule for Pakistan from August to onwards, including the 6 test against SAF, and Ban, even more one dayers. Its time for him after Natwest challenge to sit down and take a rest and not waste his body away.

Saqlain and Razzaq have never been the same since joining county cricket in England, I think only Pakistani batsman should spend some time in england county cricket, so they can improve in foreign conditions.

PS- Shoaib joined Lashings, I don't know if its a first division county, and skipped morrocco cup for that reason.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by UMAIR316: *

If you go down memory lane to 1997 when Pakistan won world series in Australia defeating Australia and Windies, and then whitewashing West Indies 3-0 at home (including Lara, Ambrose, Walsh in the team) What do our 2 fast bowlers do, they go off to county cricket in England, play there for a while and instead of resting and recharging their batteries, they comeback and have never been the same force since, I think that was the time both Ws bowling performance went down, Wasim was 30 and Waqar was in his mid 20s, still very young. They haven't been the same since.

Back in the days of Imran, county cricket was very beneficial because cricket wasn't played as much it has been played since mid 90s, each team would have a tour every couple months unlike these days.

Sami who has hectic schedule for Pakistan from August to onwards, including the 6 test against SAF, and Ban, even more one dayers. Its time for him after Natwest challenge to sit down and take a rest and not waste his body away.

Saqlain and Razzaq have never been the same since joining county cricket in England, I think only Pakistani batsman should spend some time in england county cricket, so they can improve in foreign conditions.

PS- Shoaib joined Lashings, I don't know if its a first division county, and skipped morrocco cup for that reason.
[/QUOTE]

i remember the 97 season very well, wasim and waqar played county cricket and pak team played in india independent cup, SL Asia cup,Sahara Cup 1997 without 2W's....but how it happened was when they both signed their contracts with their counties PCB had not planed these tours. SO they both had no choice but to play for counties being professionals. I agree playing county cricket takes alot of toll on ur body, and does not give u too much time to rest, but it still is a great learning experience for any cricketer
Saqlian showed great improvement as a bowler after his first seasom with surrey, clearly bowling long spells under different conditions helped him alot. Razaaq on the other hand showed less improvement as allrounder compared with what was expected from him.

But in sami's case i think playing for county would be great experience for him, he is having a little difficulty with his no bowls and wide balls. in this season with Kent he can work on that. REmember county cricket was the place where imran khan improved his bowliong action, he has said several times. and i have his bowling videos from his first test match to...1978 against india 1978, and then 1981'82. and in all those three time periods, his actions was differret and improved.

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i bet u made some cheeky remark then edited it damn i was too late to reply theek hay bacho phir kisi time :stuck_out_tongue:

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shoaib did play county cricket if i'm not wrong for nottinghamshire

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by #let uz chat#: *
shoaib did play county cricket if i'm not wrong for nottinghamshire
[/QUOTE]

No he didnt, he signed for them but got injured and did not play.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Nikema: *

i remember the 97 season very well, wasim and waqar played county cricket and pak team played in india independent cup, SL Asia cup,Sahara Cup 1997 without 2W's....but how it happened was when they both signed their contracts with their counties PCB had not planed these tours. SO they both had no choice but to play for counties being professionals. I agree playing county cricket takes alot of toll on ur body, and does not give u too much time to rest, but it still is a great learning experience for any cricketer
Saqlian showed great improvement as a bowler after his first seasom with surrey, clearly bowling long spells under different conditions helped him alot. Razaaq on the other hand showed less improvement as allrounder compared with what was expected from him.

But in sami's case i think playing for county would be great experience for him, he is having a little difficulty with his no bowls and wide balls. in this season with Kent he can work on that. REmember county cricket was the place where imran khan improved his bowliong action, he has said several times. and i have his bowling videos from his first test match to...1978 against india 1978, and then 1981'82. and in all those three time periods, his actions was differret and improved.
[/QUOTE]

Wasim played for Lancashire for over a decade but his problems with no balls and wides was still in existent.
I still think county cricket is a good place for young batsman to learn and improve their techniques, but for bowlers its only a place of making money.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by UMAIR316: *
I still think county cricket is a good place for young batsman to learn and improve their techniques, but for bowlers its only a place of making money.
[/QUOTE]

Umair you need to look at Imran's career. He was a below average bowler when he toured England with Pakistan in 1971, his debut year. He then joined Worcester and later played for Sussex and it is from these counties that this world beater bowler emerged. County cricket played a big role in improving his game and the same goes for the two W's.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by UMAIR316: *

Wasim played for Lancashire for over a decade but his problems with no balls and wides was still in existent.
I still think county cricket is a good place for young batsman to learn and improve their techniques, but for bowlers its only a place of making money.
[/QUOTE]

Correct! with wasim's case but did his bowling improved in that time or not.??

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:jhanda:…
Inshallah he will make us proud:k:..
:jhanda:…

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A season or two will be a good learning experience but any more than that will be detrimental. Imran never bowled full pelt for Sussex, he used to save himself for international cricket.

Sami on the other hand gives everything and he'll need to make sure he doesn't burn himself out on the county circuit. There's a reason why Australia and South Africa don't like their bowlers to play county cricket and I guess they want their bowlers fresh and committed.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ehsan: *

Umair you need to look at Imran's career. He was a below average bowler when he toured England with Pakistan in 1971, his debut year. He then joined Worcester and later played for Sussex and it is from these counties that this world beater bowler emerged. County cricket played a big role in improving his game and the same goes for the two W's.
[/QUOTE]

I tend to agree with Umair here( yes,yes I know its rare ;) ). We cant compare days of Imran with days of sami mainly for 2 reasons.

1.Standard of county cricket was very high in 70s and 80s.
2.Those days cricket season didnt use to be as busy as it is now.So it helped non-english players to be fit during off season.

Now a days too much is cricket being played and players definitly need to take rest and recharge themselves.Specially bowlers.I have seen examples of many bowlers in last 5-6 yrs that when they came back from county season their performance went down drastically.Not only Ws it was same with Kumble and Srinath also.
Also anyways county is full with mediocre players these days.may be 1 season can be good learning experience for any new comer because they will learn to ball in seaming conditions.But more than one season will be a waste of time and will effect their performance badly.