Nawaz, Qadir upbeat over PCB coaching programme

Former Pakistan bowlers aim to make a difference after stint.

LAHORE:

Former Pakistan cricketer Sarfaraz Nawaz has vowed to continue the country’s impressive fast-bowling tradition as he joins the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Fast Track Coaching Programme at the National Cricket Academy. Nawaz, a former fast-bowler, insisted that Pakistan had all the talent in the world and the youth only needed proper guidance to make best use of their abilities.

Nawaz, who becomes a part of the PCB set-up as he joins the NCA to coach fast-bowlers in a programme that starts from July 3, was one of the pioneers of swing bowling and helped Pakistan to a number of victories.

“Nowadays bowlers have natural swing but lack execution,” Nawaz told The Express Tribune.

“There was a time when umpires didn’t check the ball and it was easier to craft the ball accordingly but now reverse swing has become harder.”

Nawaz insisted that Pakistan had suffered after the retirement of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and since there was no backup, training young bowlers is a good way forward.

“I agree that the process of transformation was halted after Akram and Younis walked away. Pakistan did not have any sort of backup then.

“But I think that once I finish this coaching stint, there will be a lot of improvement. Some of our bowlers have technical flaws. Mohammad Talha is a superb prospect but his growth seems to be stagnant.”

Meanwhile, former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir, who has also joined the PCB Fast Track Coaching programme for the slower bowlers, was optimistic over his training stint as well.

“Leg-spin bowling is rare and is one of the difficult departments,” said Qadir. “But I’m happy the talent is still alive in the country as we have Yasir Shah, Usman Qadir and many more in the domestic circuit.

“I’ll ensure that they become better bowlers after the programme.”

The PCB, apart from Qadir and Nawaz, has also called up chief selector Mohsin Khan and former batsman Ijaz Ahmed to train the 12-man pool of batsmen.

The fast-bowlers and batsmen programme will run till July 18 while the all-rounders, middle-order batsmen and spinners’ programme will be held from July 20 to August 3.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2011.