Thaindian News

Karachi, April 12(ANI): Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has backed limited-overs skipper Shahid Afridi over his demand for a batting coach, saying that an expert can help the national team players overcome their technical problems with the bat.

“Pakistan certainly need a batting coach because he can help them overcome technical problems,” Geo Super quoted Akram, as saying.

Noting that most of the international teams have the services of full-time batting coaches, he said Pakistan should also follow suit.

Afridi had said in a recent interview that he had suggested to the Pakistan Cricket Board to look at having a permanent batting coach with the team “to guide the batsmen”.

Akram also welcomed Pakistan’s decision to rest pacer Umar Gul for the upcoming limited-overs series against the West Indies.

“It’s a good idea to rest Umar Gul because he had been playing non-stop cricket and there was a risk that he might have injured himself in West Indies,” he said.

Akram agreed that Pakistan have little experience in their pace attack, as three of their most seasoned pacers- Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul and Abdul Razzaq- are no more in the limited-overs squad for the Caribbean tour, but was quick to add that it was a good move to give youngsters a chance.

“Our pace attack seems a bit week and inexperienced but I believe that Waqar (Younis) and Aaqib (Javed) can bring the best out of these young boys,” he said, referring to the two coaches of the Pakistan team.

Akram also said that the coaches should work on curbing the bowlers’ tendency to give away too many extras.
“We have been conceding too many wides in recent times. When a frontline fast bowler gives away extras while trying to go for the wickets then its understandable, but you can’t expect medium pacers and spinners to give away so many extras,” he pointed out. (ANI)