COLOMBO, July 30: Normally a coach would lambaste a player if he had bowled poorly. But Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer had only sympathy for Mohammad Sami after he broke One-day International record for most balls bowled in an over.

The fast bowler took 17 deliveries to complete a single over against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup, including seven wides and four no-balls. Woolmer said: "Poor old Sami had a nightmare, and that happens. When it goes wrong, it can really go wrong."

He said it was not the worst over he had seen bowled, Woolmer once witnessed Australian Graham McKenzie taking 26 balls to bowl an over for English county Leicestershire.

Sami eclipsed previous One-day International record sent by Bangladesh's Hasibul Hossain, who took 14 deliveries to complete an over.

Woolmer advised Sami to take a break after a gruelling six months. He added: "I think he's feeling tired and needs a break. "I've told him to get away from the game and go on a holiday. Sami shouldn't worry about it, we can sort it out later." -Agencies