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| |  Wednesday, 2 May, 2001, 11:04 GMT 12:04 UK Sami's quick to impress  Mohammad Sami is Pakistan's latest pace sensation By BBC Sport Online's special correspondent in Karachi Mohammad Sami is Pakistan's latest addition to their fast bowling armoury and has the potential fire and bite to hit the target and destroy it. 'Samissile' believes in work rather than words. "My aim is to shine in England and follow the footsteps of my illustrious team-mates like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis," Sami, 21, told BBC Sport Online. Along with Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar Sami forms a Pakistan pace quartet akin to the West Indies attack of the 1970s and 80s.
A sensational entry into Test cricket, taking eight wickets at Auckland to help Pakistan to an imposing win, impressed many, not least the great Imran Khan. "Sami has potential to become a match winner for Pakistan, if used properly," opined Imran. Born on February 24, 1981, Sami developed an instant interest in the game. He wanted to be like Akram and Younis but with the line and length of Glenn McGrath. "I would sit before a television and would not see anything else other than pictures of Akram and Younis," said Sami. The first hurdle of his career could not have come closer to home. "We stopped him playing initially, scolded him to concentrate on studies rather than wasting time in the street on cricket," said Sami�s father Mohammad Shafi, an executive engineer. "But he stuck his chin out and his performance in Under-19 level convinced us he can make it to the big league."
Sami went to some lengths to persuade his parents that cricket was for him. "I just wanted to play and when I played while fasting, my parents became convinced I would not budge," he said. Sami graduated to Under-19 cricket three years ago and impressed with his pace and wicket taking ability. The following year he helped Karachi win the Grade-II trophy with ten wickets in the semi-final and ten in the final. "The best thing about Sami is that he is keen to learn and takes challenges," Karachi City Cricket Association secretary Sirajul Islam Bukhari said. "In February's final of the Quaid-e-Azam trophy I told him to give up cricket if he can�t take wickets on a green top pitch - he responded by taking five wickets." Sami�s 44 wickets in six Quaid trophy games paved his way for international entry. "Sami is a future Pakistan bowler and often bowls faster than Shoaib Akhtar," Wasim Akram said. He opened Pakistan's bowling with Younis when he made his debut in New Zealand.
"Naturally it was a dream come true to bowl alongside Younis, one of my idols, and taking eight wickets in the match was the icing on the cake," he said. No wickets in his second Test taught him how cruel international cricket could be and then he was injured for the final Test at Hamilton. "It was horrible because you have to watch the match from the sidelines and that I don't like." Sami now wants to make his name in England. "Bowling in England will be difficult as the ball swings more and one has to control it," he said. "I know with Younis as captain I will learn a lot and get advice." | |
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