Waqar bashes critics of his and Wasim’s reverse swing skill

Former Pakistan head coach says while touring England, you just have to be careful with controversies

Former Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis believes people who criticised him and Wasim Akram for ball-tampering later revealed their bigotry by calling the same art reverse swing.

Known as the ‘Sultans of Swing’, the duo were lethal during the 1992 tour to England and ended up being accused of ball-tampering. However, nothing was proved against them.

“It was being called ball-tampering back then when Wasim and I did it; later, the same people were calling it reverse swing,” said Waqar. “I laugh at them now because I am glad that the art of reverse swing was eventually recognised. People look up to the art and whenever people talk about reverse swing, they mention Wasim and myself and the other names who reverse swung the ball later are mentioned afterwards. It gives me immense happiness that we were the pioneers of reverse swing and it's a skill that is now widely recognised.”

Pakistani pacers are considered to be the finest when handling reverse swing and the 44-year-old thinks the 1992 series in England was pivotal for the development of this art.

“The 1992 Test series in England was a revolution when it comes to fast bowling,” said Waqar. “The Pakistan team had three or four fast-bowlers who were very good at reverse swinging the ball and that skill has continued to this day when it comes to Pakistan's pace bowling attack.

“The 1992 series in England paved the way for future generations of bowlers who perfecting the art of reverse swing not only in Pakistan but around the world as well. I feel proud that Pakistani pacers are credited with the art of reverse swing,” he added.

The 2010 sting operation against Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif by an English publication which led to a ban on the trio is an example of how critical the English media can be and Waqar thinks the behaviour is not limited to cricketers of any specific country.

“When you are touring England, it doesn't matter where you are from; you just have to be careful with the controversies,” he cautioned. “There are hawks out there looking at you and that's what happened in 1992 with the ball-tampering allegations.”

‘PCB needs to utilise Wasim more’

The former right-arm pacer said the Pakistan Cricket Board should utilise Wasim Akram more in order to push the country’s cricket forward.

PHOTO: AFP



“It [a non-cricketer chairman] has been a problem for a number of years, it's definitely an issue,” said Waqar. “The people running Pakistan cricket should be former cricketers. If not the chairman, then the key decision-makers advising the Chairman should be former cricketers. I've stated this fact in my recommendation reports to the Pakistan Cricket Board.”

“You need a cricket committee which makes cricketing decisions. What's happening is that all of the decisions are coming from the Board of Governors and there are no cricketers amongst them. Wrong people are making important cricket decisions,” he added.

“We need to give responsibility to those who have played cricket for Pakistan at the top level, such as Wasim, Younus Khan, Misbahul Haq and Ramiz Raja. All of them know and understand how cricket is changing and what is required in domestic cricket. It's great that Mudassar Nazar is back working for the PCB and I had been suggesting that for a long time. Wasim needs to be utilised more by the PCB for suggestions and ideas and to help Pakistan cricket move forward,” Waqar further said.

‘Too much pressure on Amir a worry’

Mohammad Amir recently displayed his class against Somerset in the three-day match where he took four wickets and Waqar thinks he can be a class act if he can focus on cricket.

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“He [Amir] is a seriously wonderful talent,” said Waqar. “The only thing that worries me is that we are putting him under a lot of pressure. We should allow him to go out there and just play cricket and enjoy it.

“Expectations are going to be high as he's due to play a big series. Everyone's eyes will be on him at Lord's and instead of labelling him as a superstar and saying he will do this and that, we should sit back and allow him to get back into the Test match groove without too much pressure,” he added.

“He has the talent. He's a gifted cricketer who is enthusiastic and energetic but let him perform. I think once he's back playing Test cricket and in rhythm he will trouble batsmen all around the world,” said a hopeful Waqar.

Waqar Younis was interviewed by PakPassion