Arshdeep Singh’s childhood coach Jaswant Rai revealed that his ward idolized Wasim Akram while growing up. Singh had a chance to meet the former great Pakistan bowler during the Asia Cup and shared the details with his coach.
The left-arm fast bowler from Punjab revealed that Wasim Akram told him to not come to him if he thinks he is perfect. However, Akram was willing to have a discussion with the young pacer if he wanted to learn from him.
Singh decided to have a long chat with Wasim Akram and tried to pick his brain in the UAE.
“Arshdeep told me that he met Akram Bhai who told him, ‘Sardarji, you are bowling very well. You are a good bowler. If you think you are perfect, then don’t come to me. If you feel you want to ask me anything or want to learn something from me then you can come whenever you want’. He then told me that when he went to the hotel at night, he kept thinking about that question. He felt that if he didn’t go then Akram would mind and think that Sardarji seems to know everything. So next day he went to Akram and had a discussion,” Jaswant said.
On the other hand, Arshdeep Singh was heavily criticized and trolled on social media when he dropped Asif Ali’s catch in the Super Four contest against Pakistan.
However, Wasim Akram had put his weight behind the fast bowler and predicted that he will bounce back stronger. Singh picked a total of five wickets in five matches of the Asia Cup and impressed while bowling at the death as he bowled with an economy rate of 8.62.
“If social media wants to target or have a go at someone, try me. Muqaabla karna hai to mujhse karo, then I can reply back. I have a very simple theory. If somebody is rude to me, I will be 10 times ruder. If someone will like me or send me a funny message or has a good sense of humour, I will be exactly the same. Having a go at a young kid, your own kid, doesn’t make any sense. I am all for fans and their opinions, but unless and until you haven’t played professional cricket, you don’t know what type of pressures players are going through on and off the field,” Akram had said.
Singh has been rested for the series against Australia and he will be part of the series against South Africa.
