Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar recently praised Mohammed Shami for his exceptional bowling in the World Cup 2023 semifinal against New Zealand. The clash at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium witnessed Shami’s outstanding performance, earning him the Player of the Match accolade. Shami’s remarkable figures of 9.5-0-57-7 played a pivotal role in India’s 70-run victory over the Black Caps. Akhtar commended Shami for his adept use of seam bowling, describing his ability to hit the seam as a magical aspect of his skill set. Shami’s stellar performance in the tournament reached extraordinary heights, securing 23 wickets in just six matches, surpassing Zaheer Khan’s record for the highest number of wickets taken by an Indian bowler in a single World Cup edition. Akhtar also lauded Indian captain Rohit Sharma for his attacking batting style, specifically acknowledging his pivotal innings of 47 runs in the semi-final. Looking ahead, India is poised to compete in the World Cup final on November 19, with their opponent determined by the outcome of the second semi-final between Australia and South Africa. Akhtar’s comments underscore the stellar performance of the Indian team, emphasizing the key contributions of players like Shami, Rohit, and Gill in their successful World Cup campaign.
