Pakistan have a good reserve of pacers, says Akram

Former cricketer speaks at the conclusion of two-week bowling camp.

KARACHI: Former cricketer Wasim Akram believes Pakistan has a good reserve of fast-bowlers for the next few years and this department should not be a worry for people.

Speaking at the conclusion of a two-week fast-bowling camp at the National Stadium of Karachi (NSK), Akram further discussed how he instructed the players under his supervision.

The country has failed to produce naturally quick pacers in recent times, apart from Wahab Riaz. There was a time when Pakistan had genuinely quick bowlers leading from Imran Khan, Akram himself, Waqar Younis, Mohammad Zahid, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami — all of whom had the ability to clock in at serious pace.

Mohammad Amir burst onto the scene for a while but was caught in a spot-fixing scandal which resulted in a five-year ban from international cricket.

“After this camp, I am in a position to safely say that Pakistan have a good reserve of pacers for the next few years,” said Akram. “Most of the bowlers have come from remote areas and I tried to teach them about the exercises and practices a bowler must do to improve his muscles. I tried to impart tactical and technical knowledge to these bowlers because they must know what they are about to bowl and what field should be set for it. Variations are very important in modern day cricket so we tried to help them with that as well.”



The national selection committee had announced the names of promising fast-bowlers to attend this specialised programme. Mir Hamza (Karachi), Ahmed Jamal (Abbottabad), Majid Ali (Multan), Taj Wali (Peshawar), Ammad Butt (Sialkot), Amir Yamin (Multan), Azizullah (Peshawar), Muhammad Irfan (Sialkot), Sameen Gul (Fata), M Altaf Khan (Peshawar), Bilalwal (Lahore) and Ziaul Haq (Lahore) were the ones selected.

In addition, five fast-bowlers were selected from remote areas for the LG Super Speed Stars Programme and Bilal Shah of Mardan was declared the best bowler among these, receiving Rs100,000, while the others bagged Rs50,000 each.

Wasim further added that he will be working with the Pakistan Cricket Board twice a year in order to give back to the country. “I’ll be involved more with Pakistan cricket from next year and will be working twice or thrice a year in such camps because I feel it’s my duty to give something back to my nation,” he stated.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th,  2015.

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