Sarfraz to work with Pakistan quicks

Sarfraz Nawaz, the former Pakistan fast bowler, will work with the current crop of quicks when the team has an informal gathering to meet the new Pakistan coach ahead of the Asia Cup. Sarfraz has been recruited as fast-bowling consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore as part of the PCB's extensive plans to develop cricket through specialised coaching programmes. In that capacity, he will work with the fast bowlers in the national squad, who struggled in the limited-overs games against England in the UAE.

Sarfraz said it was apparent from the England series that some of the quicks had weaknesses that needed working on. "I don't want to name individuals, but it is obvious that there are a couple of fast bowlers who are short on confidence and need some work done on their bowling," he told Pakpassion.net. "I will take a close look at them at the camp and point a few things out to them that I have observed. I don't think the issues are serious and I am sure they will be ironed out. Sometimes with quick bowlers if they get the slightest thing wrong from a technical point of view it can hinder their bowling. Technically there are some things that can be brushed up at the moment."

The Pakistan fast bowlers played second fiddle to the spinners during the 3-0 victory in the Test series, accounting for just 12 of the 60 wickets taken. On the faster pitches prepared for the limited-overs leg of the series, they were ineffective, and expensive: all the four fast bowlers tried - Umar Gul, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz and Aizaz Cheema - had an economy-rate of more than 5.50 in the ODI series and more than 7.00 in the Twenty20 internationals.

Sarfraz, who played 55 Tests for Pakistan, said he could use his experience to help the fast bowlers but it was up to them to perform on the field. "Pakistan's fast-bowling resources are satisfactory, but certainly not great. I can offer the quicks advice, give them some technical suggestions too on their bowling that will help them. At the end of the day coaches can guide, advise and give players tips, then it's down to the cricketers themselves to implement those suggestions."

Over the next two years, Sarfraz will work at the national academy alongside Javed Miandad (batting consultant), Abdul Qadir (spin-bowling consultant) and Rashid Latif (wicketkeeping consultant).