‘Why Pakistan bowlers can’t bowl like Jasprit Bumrah’- Left-Arm Legend Wasim Akram Answers

Indian Cricket Team, led by Rohit Sharma, is currently on a roll, winning their sixth consecutive match by defeating the defending champions England by a margin of 100 runs in the 29th match of the ODI World Cup 2023 at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium.

Team India has been unbeaten in the tournament and is playing cricket of the highest order so far, as they have been brilliant in all facets of the game against all the teams they have played so far. 

But the mainstay of India so far has been their sharp bowling, which has made life easier for their batsmen. In the tournament, the last match against England was a prime example when the Indians were restricted to a below-par score of 229 on a tricky surface, but the Indian bowling, which has been superb in the World Cup, again chipped in and bundled the defending champions for a mere 129 despite heavy dew in the ground. 

Mohammad Shami and Bumrah were the two pacers who broke the backbone of the English chase by picking early wickets and Kuldeep Yadav did the rest. But Jasprit has been the spearhead of the bowling in this tournament and arguably the current best white ball bowler in the World. 

Wasim Akram dissecting why Pakistan bowlers can’t bowl like Bumrah

Pakistan’s legendary left-arm pacer Wasim Akram is in awe of Jasprit Bumrah after yesterday’s match against England, and he considers Bumrah the best in the business. Addressing a question by a fan on ‘A Sports’ about why Pakistan bowlers can’t bowl like Bumrah, Wasim answered that Pakistan bowler's lack of Test matches is the main reason why they can’t bowl like Bumrah.

He further added that Test match bowling teaches you the art of taking wickets and Pakistan bowler’s lack of test match experience is one of the prime reasons why they aren’t able to pick wickets at crucial moments of the match.

Wasim Akram explained, “Our bowlers play very little longer-format cricket, while Bumrah plays Test cricket too. After his comeback from injury, he is playing one-day cricket now, but he also plays Test cricket and is equally successful there. If you are not taking wickets in longer format, bowling tough lines then it becomes difficult to fox batters in ODIs too, especially during the 10-40 overs period. That's where the problem is”.

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Moin Khan mentioned Bumrah's odd action during the debate and said: "His action is also not conventional and odd, which also definitely helps him.” Akram while agreeing with Moin, added: "To have control over deliveries with the unconventional action - bahar, ander, pace, yorker, bouncer. He's a complete bowler."