Shoaib Akhtar believes this Indian fast bowler can become the ‘king of reverse swing’

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar believes Indian pacer Mohammad Shami can become the ‘king of reverse swing’.

According to Akhtar, Shami who ran riot through the South African batting lineup in the first Test taking five wickets, called him after the Indian team’s exit from the World Cup.

"After India's World Cup disappointment, Shami called me up and said he was feeling sad that he could not do well for India. I told him not to lose heart but to maintain his fitness," Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.

"I told him that I want him to become an out and out fast bowler, he has a reverse swing, which is a luxury in the sub-continent, I told him you can become the king of reverse swing," he added.

Expressing his disappointment with Pakistani bowlers, the Rawalpindi Express said, "Now, you see what he has done, he has got wickets on a flat pitch in Visakhapatnam. I am very happy for him. Sadly, our Pakistani fast bowlers do not ask me how they can improve their bowling but the Indian bowlers like Shami are doing that. It is a sad scenario as far as my country is a concern."

Read more: Shami, Jadeja help India go 1-0 up in South Africa Test series

Shami and Ravindra Jadeja took nine wickets between them as India outplayed South Africa, winning by 203 runs on the final day of the first Test on Sunday.

Set a daunting target of 395, the tourists were bundled out for 191 in the second session in Visakhapatnam, giving India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Shami returned figures of 5-35 while Jadeja took four wickets to help current leaders India grab 40 points in the World Test Championship.