PCB should invest in U-19 players: Wasim Akram

Former pacer is happy with the progress of young bowlers, hopes tours will be organised so that they can improve

ISLAMABAD: Former cricketer Wasim Akram believes Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) must invest in Under-19 players.

The pacer cited the example of cricket greats such as Ramiz Raja, Shoaib Mohammad, Basit Ali, Amir Sohail, Inzamam, Mushtaq Ahmed and Waqar Younis, all of whom are products of U-19 cricket.

Wasim, who was training players in the two-week fast-bowling camp at National Stadium of Karachi, said all the players in the camp are very talented and ready to play good cricket.

Read: Wasim Akram to hold camp for pacers in Karachi

"It is up to selectors and PCB now to arrange U-19 and A-Team tours for these players and play them to judge their improvement," he said while talking to a private news channel.

"I am very happy with the progress of these young bowlers. They are working very hard and are hungry to learn and do as advised," he said.

He said he also instructed the players to set their own field.

"Field setting is the bowler's job and not of the captain, a captain can help a young bowler but ultimately it's the bowler's job," he said.

He said he is only adjusting players' run-ups and making few changes with their action so that they can bowl better and faster.

Read: Pakistan have a good reserve of pacers, says Akram

"Bowling fast is not that easy as you have to be super fit to bowl fast for 20 years," he said.

He said talent alone cannot make one a great bowler; persistent hard work is what it take to become a world-class bowler.

"I told the players to bowl slower ones which move away from the batsman, so when a batsman tries to hit, the ball will get a leading edge," he said.

He said he is not going to change actions of Ziaul Haq and Ahmed Jamal because they have pace and they have been playing domestic cricket for so long.

"I am just letting them know how to read the wicket, how to use the crease, which length one should ball at a certain wicket and when to bowl bouncers," he said adding as a bowler, one can judge the behaviour of the wicket after just three balls.