SOUTHAMPTON, June 23: Mohammed Shami had no second thoughts about bowling a yorker for a hat-trick delivery after Mahendra Singh Dhoni advised the same during India�s thrilling World Cup encounter against Afghanistan here.
Shami is the second Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in World Cup after Chetan Sharma�s feat against New Zealand in the 1987 edition. This is the 10th hat-trick in history of 50-over World Cup.
�The plan was simple. To bowl a yorker and even Mahi bhai suggested that. He said, �Don�t change anything now as you have a great chance of getting a hat-trick. It�s a rare opportunity and you need to do the same thing. So I did what exactly I was told,� Shami told reporters after returning with figures of 4 for 40.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar�s left-hamstring stiffness brought Shami into the picture and the Bengal pacer accepts that it was a stroke of luck that he was in the playing XI.
�Getting a chance in the playing XI is a bit of luck. I was ready that whenever I get a chance, I will have to utilise it. As far as hat-trick is concerned, it is a rarity at least in the World Cup. I am happy,� he said.
Shami said in the final over, there was no time to think and the aim was to execute the plan.
�There was no time to think. You have to back your own skills as you don�t have much option otherwise. If you try more variations, chances of going for runs is more. My thought was to execute my plan rather than trying to read batsman�s mind,� he said.
The Indian bowlers had realised that short ball was a weapon that could be used effectively and both pacers � Shami and Jasprit Bumrah � did just that against Afghan batsmen.
�We didn�t bowl fuller length deliveries as it was coming onto the bat well. We knew they would be circumspect against short balls. Our gameplan was simple, bowl bouncers from varying lengths,� he added.
All-rounder Mohammed Nabi had threatened to take the game away with his half-century and Shami said it was important that they don�t let the shoulders drop. � PTI
