Sami needs to be more positive: Sarfaraz

Mohammad Sami needs to be more positive in order to get wickets and emerge a true match-winner for Pakistan in Tests and one-dayers, says former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz.

Sami is under pressure these days for his below par showing and in danger of losing his place in the playing eleven. The speedster is losing his fans by the day, and his critics want him replaced with a fresh blood.

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"I do not think he could emerge as a wicket-taking bowler unless and until he adopts a more positive approach towards his bowling at the highest level. He is a sort of bowler who tends to bowl outside the off stump, especially with the new ball," Sarfaraz told rediff.com.

The former Test bowler, who is now working on Shabbir Ahmed to modify his bowling action as per International Cricket Council requirements, showed a report on Mohammad Sami that he submitted to the Pakistan Cricket Board almost six years back.

"I ran a fast bowling cricketing camp in 2000 and submitted a report on each and every emerging paceman. In my report on Sami I clearly mentioned that the speedster is bowling with a negative approach and he may not be able to succeed so much in international cricket," Sarfaraz said.

Sami, who mostly uses the new ball, has taken 65 wickets in 24 matches, with a poor average of more than 46 runs per wicket.

"Sami is in the habit of bowling outside the off stump with the new ball to avoid punishment from the batsmen. Unless and until he tries to make full use of the new ball and, of course, the crease, he would not be able to prove a true match-winner," Sarfaraz said.

He said Sami usually waits for the new ball to get older.

"His total approach is to see off the shine and try to take wickets with the old ball, using the art of reverse swing. This approach of his is totally negative. He must start taking full use of the new ball, should bowl within the stumps and try to introduce variety in his bowling."

Sarfaraz said bowling outside the off stump allows batsman to get used to his bowling.

"When you keep on bowling almost five of your six deliveries outside the off stump, the batsmen get used to your bowling and unless and until he commits a blunder, you cannot take his wicket," he said.

The likes of former Indian Test batsmen Sanjay Manjekar and former Pakistan opener Ramiz Raja, he said, had also pointed out Sami's weakness of not having a genuine wicket-taking delivery.

"I do not think he could develop himself as a match-winner unless he develops the habit of taking the batsman's head. Just taking a chance and waiting for the batsman to make a mistake would not solve his problem," he said.

Sarfaraz advised Sami to spend some time with any former renowned Pakistan fast bowler and utilise his experience in developing wicket-taking deliveries.

"There are so many young players coming up and I do not think that he could hold on to his place in the team with the same performance unless and until he gets further coaching from a renowned bowler. Just a few hours advise would not make any difference and would not make him a match-winner," he said.