Mohammad Asif Urges Pakistan Bowlers to Provide More Support to Mohammad Amir

Published - 24 Jan 2018, 08:27 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:48 PM

Britain Cricket - Pakistan v India - 2017 ICC Champions Trophy Final - The Oval - June 18, 2017 PakistanÄôs Mohammad Amir celebrates taking the wicket of IndiaÄôs Virat Kohli Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif who was involved in the infamous spot-fixing scandal feels that the Pakistan bowlers need to up the ante especially when it comes to working in pairs.

“A bowler is usually only successful when he is being supported from the other end,” he said. “The combination of bowlers and the understanding between partners is really important for any bowler to succeed in difficult conditions, and Pakistan have not able to get that right,” Asif said.

Asif further added that it is key for the bowlers to keep complementing each other. If one bowler is unable to take wickets from one end, then his job will be to restrict runs which would allow the other bowler to do the same or go for wickets and bowl an attacking line. If it doesn’t work out, it will always undermine the work done by the first bowler.

Mohammad Asif, Pakistan, PCB, Unfair, Spot-fixing — Mohammad Asif served the ban with Salman and Amir. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

“Amir is a key bowler but he is unable to perform well these days,” said Asif. “The bowlers should combine in such a way that ideally if there is a left-arm pacer from one end then a right-armer should be operating from the other end; especially if they both operate with the same level of aggression. If they do that then they will eventually be able to take wickets. If they get the bowling combinations right in the second T20I then they can win it.”

Meanwhile former Pakistan chief selector Salahuddin Sallu feels that the batsmen are to blame for the disastrous performance in New Zealand.

“If the batsmen are unable to put up a good total then all the pressure shifts onto the bowlers to restrict runs and take wickets at the same time,” said Sallu. “That leads to mistakes and poor balls since the bowlers don’t have much margin of error. The batsmen need to put up a good total or chase down whatever they are set if Pakistan are to have any success in the upcoming two games.”