Foster encourages Wasim, advises 'bad boy' Shoaib

Discarded former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram got a word of encouragement and support from Australian fast bowling coach Daryl Foster who said the left-armer was brilliant in his last Test against England.

Foster, who also helped Pakistan quickies on the two-Test and one-day series tour in May-June, said Wasim bowled impressively in the Old Trafford Test which Pakistan won. "He was mean and nasty as he has ever been. I think Wasim and Waqar were very good combination," Foster told reporters at the National Stadium. Wasim was not considered to be one of the 27 by the selectors for a training camp currently under progress at the National Stadium.

"I don't think he's out of frame by any means. I also don't think anyone has written him off. They would be very silly to write off a champion and Wasim is a champion," Foster said. Wasim, who has 440 one-day and 419 Test wickets, is under microscope after he finished just two full home series in the last six years. His only complete series' were against Zimbabwe and the West Indies in 1997-98. Ironically, those were the only times in six years he skippered Pakistan in a home series. Foster admitted that it was not his business to comment on Pakistan selection matters but stressed that he bowled excellently at Old Trafford without being rewarded for his hard work.

The 65-year-old, who is on a two-week assignment, also expressed his disagreement with International Cricket Council's procedures to tackle issues relating to throwing and which resulted in the suspensions of Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmad, Muttiah Muralitharan and Brett Lee. "With throwing, you can't leave it to the umpire's naked eye. I don't think any umpire is able to be a definite judge on that," he remarked.

He said in the cases of Shoaib and Muralitharan, the ICC should have said that since the two had indifferent bowling actions, the bowling committee needed to have a look at them on slow motion/video and seek advice from its experts. "It was later proved that they had unique physical characteristics which umpires were unable to put up."

Nevertheless, Foster had a word of advice for Shoaib Akhtar whom he described as a unique talent. "He has got to realize that cricket is not about bowling one ball at 100mph. Its about 15 overs in a day and be able to come back next day and do the same again. The team requires a bowler to keep producing over after over."

Foster declared that Shabbir's bowling action was fine and he was just ready to stage a comeback after overcoming injury. "I don't think the way he's bowling now, he has any problem. I don't think he has lost pace. He's six feet five inches and bowls from an enormous height. I would be surprised if he doesn't press claims for Pakistan team."

Foster, on his long term association with Pakistan cricket, said it was for the PCB to decide, while clarifying that he was interested only in training young fast bowlers as it was his research area. Asked if two weeks were enough to produce or monitor the progress being made by the quickies, the Australian said although it was not a long period, the best part was that all the coaches (from the regional academies) were here. He said the coaches were learning as well as the players.

"So when I go back, the coaches can carry on the work." He said the basic fault he has witnessed in the budding Pakistan fast bowlers was an incorrect use of the front arm. He, however, said the boys were good learners when he said he noticed that they have responded well to the mistakes pointed out to them with the assistance of video films.

"I think 90 per cent have overcome that problem and now we are upto the nitty-gritty things like the use of the wrist, fault in the run-up and no-balls," he said. When asked if it was the right idea to hand over 40 odd bowlers instead of a select group of seamers, Foster said he was fine with him because he wanted to see every bowler before picking up the best.

He said there were some very flamboyant boys out of whom some with mature quickly but required to do weight training to strengthen their muscles and body. He refused to make predictions but emphasised that it was not too far down the track when some of these youngsters would break into international cricket.