Akram in Delhi for fast bowlers' camp

Wasim Akram, the former Pakistan fast bowler and captain, is in Delhi to conduct a fast-bowling camp for promising youngsters in the capital. The camp, a joint initiative between the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) and Cradle Sports, will be held on September 2 and 3 and will involve up to 15 players.

"The Wasim Akram Pace Academy will improve upon and better the MRF Pace Academy [in Chennai]," Sunil Dev, the DDCA secretary, said. "The idea is to have a legend train the young kids.

"These workshops will be held on a sustained basis. The School Cricket League [for Under-16s] will start from October 1 and will be used as a platform to select the state team in that group so that all biases are removed."

Akram, who will be assisted by the former Indian offspinner Nikhil Chopra, said it's important to train youngsters to adjust to different pitches and conditions. "We look at pitches putting Australia as the benchmark. We have to get rid of that now," Akram said. "It's only in the mind. We too had similar conditions to play with. Pace is the most important thing and nothing else matters.

"The idea is to help youngsters develop and improve upon their skills and what better platform than an academy of this nature. Initiatives like this need to be carried on a sustainable basis and corporates should come forward and support it in a big way."