"Bowl like Shaheen Afridi" - Wasim Akram's advice to Arshdeep Singh amid 2024 T20 World Cup [SK Match ki Baat Exclusive]
Legendary Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram has opined that Team India's Arshdeep Singh should take a cue from Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi's new-ball bowling style in the 2024 T20 World Cup. He suggested that pitching the ball at the fuller length will prove beneficial on the West Indian pitches in the Super 8 round.
Akram mentioned that Arshdeep should be looking to bowl full and have the mid-on and mid-off on the straighter side, to ensure that even if he missed his mark, he has protection to stop the boundary. The cricketer-turned-commentator reckoned that for his second spell, the left-arm pacer should rely on his 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 looked in impressive form at the ongoing 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 spoke about how Arshdeep Singh has the skill to excel in red-ball cricket as well. The cricketer-turned-commentator emphasized the importance of Test cricket and hoped that the Indian bowler was also keen to play the longest format.
Akram stated that Arshdeep must look to play Test cricket if he wants to leave a legacy behind. The 58-year-old added:
"I think he's very impressive and talented. He should be focussing on four-day cricket too because he can swing the ball both ways and also has pace. He can bring the new ball 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 take on Bangladesh in the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup in Antigua.