Wasim Junior says he enjoys bowling with Amir
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators pace bowler Mohammad Wasim Junior has said that he enjoys bowling with the left-armer Mohammad Amir, who he said is a world-class bowler.
“I am enjoying bowing with Mohammad Amir who is a world-class bowler. The way he bowls in the start and then in the death overs so I am really enjoying bowling alongside him,” Wasim said in a post-match news conference.
Mohammad Wasim on Thursday night bowled extremely well as he picked 3-20 in his quota of four overs to enable Quetta Gladiators to restrict Islamabad United to 138-9 here at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.
In response, Jason Roy (37), skipper Rilee Rossouw (34 not out) and Sherfane Rutherford (29) did well with the bat to guide Gladiators to achieve the target with ten balls to spare after losing seven wickets in the process.
Wasim said that he bowled as per plans which paid off.
“Yes, I did not bowl well in the previous matches but today I bowled with a plan. I had been told not to go after wickets and hit hard length. Quetta Gladiators management guides the players very well and its environment is very good,” Wasim said.
Asked that with the induction of Shane Watson as head coach and Shan Tait as bowling coach Quetta Gladiators seem to be a different team Wasim said that definitely they are guiding the unit very well.
“Although I am playing for the first time for Quetta but its management, featuring head coach Shane Watson and bowling Shan Tait, with whom I have also worked in the national team, are guiding us well and the plan which they give us we try to implement it. And Amir’s induction is a huge plus as he is a very fine bowler,” Wasim said.
Wasim said that momentum shifted towards Quetta when Salman Ali Agha got run out, adding the way he was playing and the start he had given to his side was fantastic.
“We knew that 160 to 170 runs on this wicket will be very good,” he said.
Wasim also appreciated the team’s combination.
“The way our combination has been formed so its very well. Change of captaincy does not matter more and what is mattered more is the team combination and we have a fine combination,” Wasim said.
Wasim said that Quetta Gladiators will try their level best to continue with the winning momentum.
Asked that he got out at a crucial stage Wasim said that he had been given the plan to take single.
“I had been told to take single and not to go for a big hit and I also did not feel well when I went for a big hit as Rossouw had told me to take single,” he said.
Wasim said they knew that they would win the game when they restricted the oppositions to 139.
“We needed just one big partnership and Rilee and Rutherford batted well in the middle which helped us,” Wasim said.
He said that the pitch was slow and bowlers who bowled wicket to wicket were getting advantage and reverse swing was also seen.