Karachi, July 24: Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has described his one-time new ball partner Mohammad Sami as a “mentally weak” bowler who is not adept at handling pressure.
“Sami is a mentally weak athlete and he can’t take pressure,” Akhtar said.
Akhtar turns his attention to Sami, a few days after criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board.
“Efforts were made to make Mohammad Sami into the ‘Karachi Express’. He was constantly told that your competition is with Shoaib Akhtar for a place in the team,” Akhtar told a news channel here.
Akhtar, who retired from all forms of cricket in acrimonious circumstances during the World Cup last year, was asked about the performance of Sami and his experiences of playing alongside him.
Akhtar insisted that when he played his aim was always to try and get the opposition out in one spell. “I was always aggressive and trying to get wickets as that is the job of a fast bowler like me,” he said.
The national selectors and the team management have come under criticism for retaining Sami in the T20 squad announced for the coming Australia series and the T20 World Cup, after he failed to make an impact on the Sri Lanka tour.
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