No pace and yorkers: Waqar must be tearing his hair out, says Muhammad Zahid

Former pacer says it is easy to blame the coach but in the ground it is the players who need put on a show

Former Pakistan pacer Muhammad Zahid thinks head coach Waqar Younis must be really worried by fast-bowlers’ lack of pace and inability to bowl yorkers at the death on slow wickets in limited overs cricket.

Pakistan were recently whitewashed in the three-match T20 series and also beaten 3-1 in ODIs by England in the UAE.



“He [Waqar] must be tearing his hair out at watching the lack of thought and skill currently being shown by Pakistan's pace bowlers in the limited overs formats,” wrote Zahid, in his blog for PakPassion.

“He, of course, was a great bowler himself but once the players walk onto the field then the coach cannot do anything but watch. He must be doubting his own ability as a coach after watching some of the lovely dishes being served up by our pace bowlers.”

The 39-year-old added that it was easy to blame the coach but in the ground it is the players who need put on a show.



“It's very easy to blame the coach when the team loses but the coaching staff can only prepare the players, once battle commences then it's down to the players to perform,” wrote Zahid.

“It seems that too many Pakistani players of the modern era need hand-holding and lack the skill or temperament to succeed without being pampered by coaching staff.”

Zahid, who is the first Pakistani cricketer to take ten wickets on his debut in Tests, believes the medium-pacers in the Pakistan team are not able to deliver yorkers at will which is resulting in loses.

“Historically our fast bowlers have relied on reverse-swing, pace and yorkers. I look at our limited overs team and apart from Wahab Riaz I don't see any pace or any yorkers from them,” wrote Zahid.



“Opposition batsmen must be thinking that it's their lucky day when they see the medium pacers we are playing in our current twenty over and fifty over teams, jogging up to the wicket and bowling friendly half-volleys or half-trackers. You cannot win matches on flat decks with medium pacers who cannot bowl quick and cannot bowl yorkers.”

Zahid also observed the slump in the limited overs rankings of the Pakistan team and claimed that it was horrifying to see them in such poor shape.

“Over the years our strength mainly has been in the shorter formats and it's horrifying to see the Pakistan limited overs teams in such poor shape. Our cricketers are brought up playing limited overs matches so there is no excuse at all for such inept performances,” added Zahid.

The former left-arm pacer also backed Muhammad Amir for his return into the national side.



“I think it's fantastic to see Amir back playing cricket once again. What has really impressed me has been the way he has bounced back after five years. It's almost like he has never been away from cricket,” explained Zahid.

“So far he's stood up to the challenge and to the doubters who thought he wouldn't play top level cricket again. It will have been mentally tough for him and a huge challenge but he's impressed me very much in domestic cricket in Pakistan and also at the Bangladesh Premier League.

“There will be tougher challenges ahead from him and the road back to being one of the finest bowling talents once again will be a long one, but all the signs are promising and I look forward to seeing him in a Pakistan shirt soon.”

Furthermore, Zahid was of the opinion that left-arm fast-bowler Junaid Khan has been wasted and needs to stand back up as he was one of Pakistan’s best finds.



“It breaks my heart to see what has happened to Junaid Khan. Here was a bowler who was world-class and could bowl with real pace, had skill and could swing and seam the ball. These days he looks a shadow of the bowler we once saw,” he wrote.

“My advice to Junaid is to stand up, get back on your feet and lift yourself and raise your performances once again. Whatever is going on behind the scenes is resulting in Junaid's career being ruined. If there are issues with his attitude, fitness, or if there any issues that he needs to address then he needs to be told and not kept in the dark. If he is out of favour and not amongst the favourites at this moment then he needs to be told why.

“Dropping him and then not addressing any issues is resulting in a fine bowler being lost to Pakistan cricket. I would urge all parties to resolve this situation as soon as possible.”