'Fast bowling is the toughest job in cricket'

Aaqib Javed, the former Pakistan fast bowler, now serving as a senior coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), shares his thoughts on the upcoming talent in Pakistan and the role of his institution in grooming young players to play top-level cricket. He spoke to Pakpassion.com in a two-part interview.

On how the NCA functions.

It would be impossible for the NCA to go to every village which is why we have 11 regional academies working under the NCA. The way it works is that these acadamies identify regional talent at a young age and develop it, their job is to groom their local players. They give these youngsters personal development plans and teach them how best to utilise their talent.
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On bowlers struggling to make the transition to hard balls after impressing with tennis balls

You need a really big heart, you have to really want it and you must have a good professional attitude too. Fast bowling is the toughest job in cricket, you wont make it unless you're totally dedicated to your bowling. The tennis ball gives you the basics and it encourages you to bowl fast but there has to come a point where you move on to the hard ball