Sarfraz, Qadir confident about coaching programme

Sarfraz Nawaz, the former Pakistan fast bowler, has said that there is plenty of fast bowling talent in Pakistan and proper guidance is all that is needed to help players make the most of their abilities.

"Nowadays bowlers have natural swing but lack execution," Sarfraz 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."

Sarfraz, who will be coaching fast bowlers at the PCB Fast Track Coaching Programme at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore that begins on July 3, said that the retirement of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis had left a void that Pakistan was not equipped to fill at the time, but the coaching programme will help correct that.

"I agree that the process of transformation was halted after Akram and Waqar 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."

Abdul Qadir, the former Pakistan legspinner, has also joined the coaching programme and was equally optimistic about making progress with the spinners. "Leg-spin bowling is rare and is one of the difficult departments," Qadir said. "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."

Chief selector Mohsin Khan and former Pakistan batsman Ijaz Ahmed will also be part of the programme as coaches for the 12-man pool of batsmen. The programme for the fast bowlers and batsmen will run from July 3 to July 18 and the allrounders, middle-order batsmen and spinners' programme will be held from July 20 to August 3.