Mohammad Sami, in an exclusive interview with PakPassion.net, has expressed his delight at making a comeback into the Pakistan team and confirmed that he is very much looking forward to the T20 World Cup.

By: ShehryarK

21 April 2010

Mohammad Sami, in an exclusive interview with PakPassion.net, has expressed his delight at making a comeback into the Pakistan team and confirmed that he is very much looking forward to the T20 World Cup. "The whole team is very fit and is raring to perform well", said Sami.

Sami fully realises the heavy responsibility he is expected to carry given the current injury crisis afflicting Pakistan's pace bowling. "Yes, I am replacing one of the best T20 bowlers (Umar Gul) around, and of course there will be a lot of pressure, but I am up for the challenge. Despite representing Pakistan in a number of Test matches and ODIs, I have never played for Pakistan in the T20 format. I will try to contribute towards the team's success", continued the paceman.

PakPassion and Sami looked back at his career which started magnificently, and with great expectations, when he burst onto the scene with a series of wonderful performances, but then deteriorated, in particular in Test cricket. Somehow, the immense potential was never fulfilled. "Yes I started very well in international cricket, but unfortunately I didn’t do as well later on as I should have", was his honest assessment.

Sami attributed his subsequent weak performances over the years to bad luck, bad form, a large number of dropped catches off his bowling, and the fact that he played 20-25 of his Test matches on absolutely flat tracks which offered nothing for pace bowlers.

However, he remains hopeful for the future. "I am hoping that I will do well in future and Insha Allah the fielders will start backing me up as well", was Sami's positive and optimistic comment, and he hoped to build on the last match he played for Pakistan, when he blasted the Australian top order with an explosive first spell.

Discussing the skills necessary to excel in the T20 format, Sami commented that "Slower balls are very important in T20 cricket, and I have spent a lot of time on mastering this art. It's very important to use variations because you can never afford to be predictable in T20".

PakPassion asked Sami about his solid performances in the recent domestic season, and his experience as the captain of Karachi. "I have matured as a bowler, and my form is very good in domestic cricket, and I have enjoyed a lot captaining the Karachi team. You learn immensely when you are captain; you have to make sure you take the team with you, you have to absorb pressure, and lead from the front as the whole team is looking towards you for inspiration. Your performance has to be absolutely top class if you are captain", remarked Sami.

When asked to identify future prospects for the Pakistan team, the fast bowler was all praise for Khalid Latif and Shahzaib Hasan, and believes that they have the talent to serve Pakistan Cricket. "Tanveer Ahmed is an outstanding player as well, and he was also the leading wicket taker in the domestic competition".

Asked about the art of captaincy, Sami was of the view that every captain has a unique style. "I have played under many different captains (Inzamam, Moin, Rashid, Waqar), and all of them were very supporting and always helped me. Imran Khan is one person who has supported me throughout, and I am very grateful to him".

When queried about his cricketing heroes and inspirations, Sami went for two legends of the game; "Imran Khan and Wasim Akram are the two players I grew up watching. They are my cricketing heroes".

PakPassion.net congratulates Sami on his selection, and wishes him and the rest of the Pakistan team a successful and victorious trip to the West Indies.