Wasim stresses need for Pak-India Test series

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Waseem Akram has said that a Pakistan-India Test series had no comparison, not even with the Ashes.
Speaking to reporters at National Stadium here on Saturday, he said that Pakistan-India Test series should be played as it would be watched by hundreds of millions of people across the globe.
Pakistan and India were likely to play a Test series in near future, but the Indian cricket authorities scrapped the plan following an attack in Gurdaspur, which their government said was work of militants from Pakistan.
Pakistan government strongly rejected the charge.
The PCB has organised a 13-day fast bowling coaching camp for 18 promising fast bowlers chosen from across the country.
Each day two sessions will be held at NSK.
Former Test fast bowler Muhammad Akram will be the camp commandant, while Waseem will train the participants.
He said it was unfathomable why wicketkeeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed was being sidelined in matches against Sri Lanka.
Akram said that when Sarfraz was dropped during the recent World Cup, there was a lot of protest “but I am surprised why it is not happening this time”.
He said Sarfraz should be included in teams of all three formats as he was playing well.
Wasim said fast bowler Junaid Khan was talented and hoped that after playing in county cricket he would regain his rhythm and form.
He said he was delighted to see that PCB had discovered some new fast bowlers from neglected parts of the country who would be trained along with the other emerging fast bowlers of domestic cricket.
Waseem said that he had a passion to transfer his art to the young lads of the country.
He said that during the camp basics of fast bowling would be taught. He said that he would work on the run-up, jump and grip of the ball.
Waseem said PCB had experts for fitness who would look after the boys’ physical training.
He said if fast bowlers were not careful in their diet and physical training during off season, they would face problems in their careers.
Wasim said he was confident Pakistan’s pool of young fast bowling talent would secure their future. “Pakistan has enormous talent,” he said.
“Talent keeps coming because there is a passion for bowling fast in Pakistan so we need to nurture the talent and I am confident that the future is secure.”
The 49-year-old, regarded as the best left-arm paceman to have played the game, will train around 20 young bowlers from across the country, in particular from the tribal areas along the Afghan border and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“I am happy that bowlers from remote areas have come to the camp and even though the 13-day period is short I am sure these bowlers will learn the basics,” he said.
Himself plucked from nowhere during a talent hunt camp in 1984, Wasim rose to enormous heights at international level, taking 414 Test and 502 one-day wickets during an illustrious career.
Muhammad Akram said that fast bowlers had been picked from previously neglected areas, including Sukkur, AJK, FATA and Quetta.
Asked why fast bowler Tabish Khan was being constantly neglected despite his good performances, Akram said Tabish was included in the Pakistan A cricket team. “He and other good fast bowlers are on our radar and whenever we find any opportunity we will use them,” he said.
He said Junaid was among Pakistan’s first-choice fast bowlers and would be considered for selection when he regained his form. On the first day, six fast bowlers reported at the camp and started training.