Wasim receives vote of confidence from Pybus

Wasim Akram received the much important vote of confidence from Pakistan coach Richard Pybus who arrived here Tuesday to resume his three-month assignment.

"As far as I am concerned, Wasim is still the best left-arm fast bowler in the world," the England-born South African based trainerturned-coach said.

Wasim was unceremoniously ignored for the ongoing training camp for the forthcoming season but was eventually given his opportunity when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to organize a two-day match.

Pybus is the second foreign coach who has thrown his weight behind the out-of-favour Wasim. Last month, Australian fast bowling coach Daryl Foster had said: "They (selectors) would be very silly to write off a champion and Wasim Akram is a champion."

Although the two foreigners still believe Wasim has the capabilities to deliver the goods, the clueless Pakistan selectors have their own unique, illogical and mindboggling ways of picking players. The Pakistan squad for Bangladesh match is expected to be named on Aug 26.

Pybus, however, said like any other cricketer, Wasim needed to make sure that he looks after his fitness.

"He has been very disciplined on that front in the last couple of years. He was in good shape in England but unfortunately pulled that tricep muscle halfway through the one-day series. But prior to that, he was bowling pretty well," he said.

Regarding the controversy surrounding the great left-armer, Pybus said he didn't see any dispute.

"Where is the controversy? All he is doing is playing cricket. All he needs to do is focus on his job as a cricketer."

When pointed out that Wasim had been ignored for the camp and was also a last-minute inclusion in the team for the England tour, Pybus said: "That's upto the selectors to include him in the 27 or not.

"I haven't been here so I don't know what has been happening here. I am not getting drawn into this controversy."

Asked if he wanted to have more say in team selections after serving as coach only on foreign tours where he was handed the squad, Pybus said it was a matter between him and the board which was confidential and didn't deserve to be discussed in public.

Pybus, nevertheless, admitted that he wanted to see Pakistan cricket move away from chopping and changing. He said the PCB has been reiterating as they want continuity at the highest level.

"That's from where you get the excellence; that's why Australia has been playing fantastic cricket because there has been no chopping or changing for years now. They allow the players to strive for excellence," he said.

The 42-year-old former Border state trainer was unconcerned over the facts that Pakistan has sacked several captains and coaches after any disasterous home series.

"I have not come here worrying about the past or what happened to previous coaches. The end goal is that in the coming 10 weeks we have to win. "I am not concerned about the end of the series. I am worried about today and tomorrow and can't be focussing on the past. If you focus on the that, you can't work properly 10 weeks down the line," he said.

Ironically, Pybus himself was sacked immediately after the tour to Australia in 1999 where Pakistan lost all the three Tests.

Pybus said there was enormous talent in Pakistan which needs to be harnessed. He said the way the boys played in England, it confirmed that the team was getting back on track. He said he can now work on the next level and attain the same consistency which the Australians have achieved.

"The core of this side is the one which I worked with in the 1999 World Cup. So the players know me and we will be working on the same basis," he said.

Commenting on the Asian Test Championship against Bangladesh, who are in their teething days at the international level, Pybus said at Test level, every opponent has to be respected.

"You fall very quickly on your back if you don't respect your opponents and the spirit of the game. We will take this Test as seriously as we were playing anybody else," he said with obvious unexpected defeats against low-ranked Zimbabwe and England in the last couple of years in the back of his mind.

Pybus, even before the start of his fresh contract, didn't rule the possibility of returning in December for the tour to Bangladesh, remaining Asian Test Championship games against Sri Lanka and the final (if Pakistan qualify) and the home series against the West Indies.

"After this series, if the PCB and I agree, we can work on the West Indies series as well. As long as you keep moving forward and improve the quality of cricket, I agree to all contracts."