Shoaib Malik emulates Wasim Akram

What a difference it is, to see a young, cheerful, smiling face at the helm of Pakistani cricket. In an interview, Shoaib Malik spoke of his desire to emulate Wasim Akram as a cricket captain, and follow his aggressive approach to cricket.

Shoaib could do far worse than follow Wasim, who had a 60% winning percentage in ODIs, and won more test matches than he lost or drew. It probably speaks to Shoaib's appreciation of Wasim's cricketing skills that Mr. Grand Poobah himself, Nasim Ashraf if you didn't know, has asked Wasim Akram to help out the Pakistani fast bowling ranks with a few coaching sessions. Here is to hoping that Wasim gets treated better than Waqar. And for all of those upset with Wasim for helping out the Indian bowlers before he helped out the Pakistani bowlers, well all you had to do was ask.

Wasim Akram on Wasim Bari

Well, Wasim Akram has never been known to keep his feelings under wraps, and he doesn't do that here. He lets loose about his feelings on Wasim Bari, who through all the ups and downs at the PCB, has remained as chair of the selectors committee for the past 15 years. While I'm sure some portions of the coments may be appropriate, lets not forget that Wasim Akram is probably not the world's biggest PCB or Wasim Bari fan after being nudged or shall I say shoved out of the game after the 2003 World Cup.

Comments from the PCB Seminar in Lahore

In an interesting exercise, the PCB held a one-day seminar to look at the current state of cricket in Pakistan. While many of the names were there, Imran Khan, Miandad, Aamir Sohail, Wasim Akram and Moin Khan were not there, and their presence could have provided some more fireworks at the event.



Perhaps the only real consensus there was over ensuring that the PCB runs on a more democratic setup, and there is greater support for the domestic system. Majid Khan raised a very interesting point, that Pakistan, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are the only nations in international cricket (what august company!), where the domestic system has not been stable for the last many years. Although Dr. Ashraf, the new PCB head, has said he takes this issue seriously, only time will tell if that is true or not. As all fans of Pakistani cricket know, change never happens in the world of the PCB.

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Wasim knows a spade when he sees it

Quote: Where reverse swing is concerned, I don't believe we are cheats and rest of the world is practising an art form

Wasim Akram's opinions about the camp and England tour

Wasim Akram as always, has interesting things to say. He doesn't hesitate to take shots at the PCB, Inzamam and even Shoaib Akhtar.

Wasim Akram backs the pay raise

Not only does Wasim Akram support the request for a raise, he also criticises the PCB for fattening up their kitties, while not investing in the cricketers and the infrastructure.

Wasim Akram on Rhodes and Afridi

In a Bengali paper, Wasim Akram speaks out against the hiring of Rhodes, takes a backhanded slam at Inzamam, and criticizes Afridi's decision.

"DSS: What are your views on specialist coaches? Like Jonty Rhodes in Pakistan?

WA: Role of coaches? To take holidays (laughs). As for Jonty he is going for only two weeks. What can you learn in two weeks? Inzamam (ul Haq) will not move from his chair. He will be sitting there for two weeks. What will Jonty do?

DSS: ... and Shahid Afridi's 'retirement'?

WA: At the age of 26, it's a stupid decision that he made and I don't know who advised him on it. I will have a go at him when I go back to Pakistan. This is not on. People die for Test cricket. He'll be remembered as an average player, if he only plays ODIs. Whoever has given him this advice, is very idiotic."

Inzamam wants Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis as bowling coaches!

At an interview in Lahore, Inzamam talked about the challenges facing the team.

Not only did Inzamam answer questions about his fitness, he went on to speak of the importance to the team of having a bowling coach and also a fielding coach. Interestingly enough, Inzamam spoke of bringing in Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis as bowling coaches. Lets see what the PCB says about that!

Ouch! et tu Wasim Akrarm!

Even Wasim Akram has gotten into the act. With some pretty frank and open criticism of the PCB and Inzamam, Wasim highlights the practices of curators who ask the captain and coach about what kind of wicket to prepare. While this might or might not be true, Wasim and Waqar Younis have really taken criticism of the PCB and Pakistani cricket to an all-time high.

Mushtaq is a "bowling consultant"

So it appears that Mushtaq Ahmed has been hired. The Pakistani team, it is felt by the PCB, needed a bowling consultant, and for that end he has been retained as a bowling consultant. Inzamam is also supporting him, so it appears that is probably the major thing in his favour.

In a statement which is neither here nor there, it appears that the PCB has called on Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis to assist with the national team whenever they are available. As to how they will be paid, or what their contracts will be, no one knows. Without considering candidates such as Asif Iqbal, Aaqib Javed, Sarfaraz Nawaz and the three fast bowlers, the decision to retain Mushtaq Ahmed for a long-term contract is intriguing at best. I would still like to know what Mushtaq Ahmed's credientials are to be able to coach a national team.

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Apart from the usual comment that the Pakistan cricket squad needs a bowling coach, Wasim Akram makes another interesting point. Wasim asks for setting up a panel of bowling experts to point out and remedy bowlers with suspect bowling actions in first class cricket, prior to ICC sanctions. This home grown approach to verifying good technique might be a good way to go, specially in light of the recent Shabbir Ahmed situation.

Imran makes comments about the PCB.

I said it here a few days ago that Imran Khan may be looking for an in, as far as the PCB setup is concerned. It appears that Imran is becoming increasingly proactive about this. In a visit to Hyderabad, Sindh, Imran makes some interesting comments about the PCB.

First, Imran Khan criticizes the PCB for its lack of a constitution and the current adhoc decision making process. Further, albeit in an unnamed manner, Imran makes some criticisms of Shaharyar Khan, specifically related to what he called a one-man show at the PCB.
Shaharyar Khan, who has already come in for some criticism about his decisions regarding the hiring of Mushtaq Ahmed as bowling coach, is going to come in for some flack here. Imran Khan further highlights his differences with Shaharyar by not only proposing Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis or Aaqib Javed as potential bowling coaches for Pakistan, but also stresses the importance of having Yasir Hameed in the lineup as a specialist opener. This also speaks against the Pakistani teams current philosophy of having Shoaib Malik open in tests and Kamran Akmal in ODIs.

Imran Khan as PCB Chief within one year? I called it here first ;)

Does the PCB rap Akram?

Now, I have only been able to find this story referenced from the Calcutta Telegraph, and no other source. Supposedly a senior PCB official has promised to take Wasim Akram to task for his anti-ICC comments.

If this is true, this is nothing but bunk. Wasim Akram has no current dealings with the PCB, and in fact is an independent person who can say what he thinks and what he pleases. The PCB has no business discussing anything with Wasim or trying to bully him. Wasim owes the PCB nothing, specially after the way he was summarily cast aside in 2003. He is fully entitled to his opinion.

Wasim Akram and the ICC

Over the last few days Wasim Akram has made some interesting and stinging comments about the ICC. First, he came out and said that ICC's policy on chucking was not only difficult and hard to understand, its implementation was perhaps blatantly biased. Chief amongst Wasim's accusations was the lack of English/Aussie/NZ bowlers who have been investigated for chucking, while the process seems to mostly effect bowlers from the subcontinent and the West Indies. Now, Wasim seems to allude that this may be the case because there is no effective representation from the subcontinent on the ICC. I'm not sure if this comment really has merit. Sunil Gavaskar is chairman of the cricket committee, Ihsan Mani, who's merit Wasim appears to question, is the ICC president, and Faisal Hasnain is the CFO. Sure, high profile players like Imran, Kapil and Javed are not represented, but that doesn't necessarily mean the ICC is not representative. The chucking issue needs to be looked at in more detail, as well as the rules which govern chucking but do comments like this help? Not sure.

Wasim to coach PIA

Wasim Akram finally has been asked to coach. Wonder how long it will be before Pakistan will ask him to help out.

What's going on with the Ws?

The actions of the PCB are getting curiouser and curiouser. First came the news, as reported in this blog, that Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis had been approached to coach Pakistani pacers at a local camp. Then came the news from Shahryar Khan, that this was not the case.

Now it seems Inzy wants to get in on the debate. Commenting on the four Pakistani bowlers going to India to work with Dennis Lillee, Inzy quite clearly has said that he would prefer the Pakistani bowlers to be coached by the Ws, as opposed to the Indian camp where Lillee plies his trade.

One would really wish that the PCB would make up its mind and decide what to do with the Ws, and other Pakistani greats from the past. They indeed have a role in the development of Pakistani cricketers, and if they continue to treat such world class athletes in such a cavalier fashion, no one would be harmed except Pakistani talent.

Wasim and Waqar back in the fold.

Welcome news! Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, perhaps the deadliest fast bowling tandem in history, have been asked to help coach young Pakistani seamers at a soon to be held camp for opening batsmen and seamers. Its about time the PCB went and asked these two stalwarts for advice and assistance.

Battle in Barbados - Who's right? Wasim or Imran

So Wasim Akram & Imran Khan have come down on different sides on how to deal with the Battle in Barbados. The altercation between Inzy, Younis & Afridi made all the papers, and rightly Saleem Altaf has taken a great deal of flack for it as well.

Wasim Akram feels that the players should have been sent back to Karachi on the first flight from Barbados because of their altercation and the message it sends to the team. Given that the Captain, Vice-Captain and perhaps the emotional leader of the team were involved, one can question the wisdom of Akram's comments.

Imran Khan has come down on the other side. At a dinner in Islamabad, he commented that such altercations happen on every tour, and the only reason this became a big deal was because Pakistan lost so ignobly!

Who is right? Was it a big deal? Only time will tell!