Usama Mir: “Yes, the performance at the World Cup affected my confidence but I learned from my mistakes”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan leg-spinner Usama Mir has admitted that his confidence took a hit following his poor performance in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.
In the tournament, Mir took four wickets in four matches at an average of 62 and an economy rate of 7.08.
He noted that he was unaware of the mistakes he kept making until it dawned on him that he wasn’t completing his bowling action properly.
After identifying the problem, the 28-year-old worked hard to fix it so that it wouldn’t affect his bowling any longer.
“When ODIs came, I had to adjust my action so I would be able to bowl slow balls, I think that affected my performance in the World Cup. Yes, the performance at the World Cup affected my confidence but I learned from my mistakes,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
“I couldn’t figure out the mistakes I was committing and I kept on repeating them. After some time, I realised that I wasn’t completing my action, which I fixed.”
Mir’s hard work on fixing his bowling action worked wonders in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) as he was the highest wicket-taker with 24 victims in 12 games for the Multan Sultans at an average of 15.87 and an economy rate of 8.13.
The Sultans managed to make it to the final, but ended up losing to Islamabad United by two wickets.
Mir is now part of Pakistan’s team for the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
Pakistan hold a 1-0 lead ahead of the third T20I, which will be played on April 21 in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan Squad for New Zealand T20I Series: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan
Non-travelling reserves: Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha
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