"More than pace, I concentrate on my swing" - Shami Ahmed Interview

Bengal’s seamer Shami Ahmed was pitchforked to international cricket after playing only 15 first class and 15 List A games. He made his debut against Pakistan in the ODI series in India and also featured in the ODI series against England that followed. He became the first Indian (8th overall) to bowl four or more maidens on debut.

The success he enjoyed in the 2012/13 Ranji season for Bengal was rewarded with an India cap and he justified his selection completely in the chances he got. He’s also a part of Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and featured in 3 matches in the 2013 season.

He was in conversation with Sportskeeda recently. Here are the excerpts:

How was it like working with Brett Lee in the KKR camp?

It was good to work with Brett Lee however I would have still preferred Wasim sir. Being an Asian, he has a better understanding of bowling conditions and one can easily relate to what he has to tell us regarding bowling.

What do you think went wrong this season for KKR?

Well, luck wasn’t with us for sure. Apart from that, there was fault in our team selection and planning. For e.g. Yusuf bhai was unclear about what position he would play in every match. He was made to play at every position from opening to no.9. There was no clarity. Technically also, things went wrong for us.

How is Gautam Gambhir as a captain?

He is a good captain. The best thing about him is that he reads the game well. Also, he likes the players to deliver what he wants.

You made your debut against Pakistan. How thrilling was that? How much did the pressure affect you?

It was my dream to play for India. Also, to play against Pakistan on my debut was an added bonus. Since childhood, like the other Indians, I loved watching Indo-Pak matches. There was no pressure. I knew that I had to make the best out of the chance I was given and give my hundred percent.

How important is pace for you as a bowler? Or do you think it can take a back seat over time?

I try to maintain my pace. I bowl around 140kph. Also, it’s important to bowl in the right areas. More than pace, I concentrate on my swing.

You bowled four consecutive maiden overs on your ODI debut. How did you pull that off?

Well, we had a plan in mind, which was to allow the opposition to play till 40 overs. It was important for us to save every run. Therefore I tried bowling in the right areas and not give any chance to the batsmen. Thankfully, things worked in my favour.

You have played under Dhoni and Gambhir. What is the main difference between their styles of leadership?

Well, it’s no secret that Dhoni is a very cool and calm captain. He will just tell you once to bowl the best you can and in the right areas. He will not interrupt until and unless he finds that something is wrong. Gambhir on the other hand is pretty aggressive.