January 25, 2008	Friday	Muharram 15, 1429

HYDERABAD, Jan 24: Given the fact that Pakistan have a tough series coming up against the Australians, former Pakistan skipper and pacer Waqar Younis has cautioned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) against injuries to players, especially to the faster bowlers.

“PCB should do its best to ensure that players don’t get injured in the current series in view of the forthcoming assignments against Australia and India. I think it is very important for the board to concentrate on this aspect,” the cricketer-turned TV commentator told Dawn at the Niaz Stadium on Thursday.

Waqar, who backed PCB’s initiative of giving chances to younger players such as Samiullah Niazi and Nasir Jamshed in the on-going series against Zimbabwe, said that the current bowling line-up was Pakistan’s second string attack and one could not expect more than what they have been doing.

Praising Umer Gul and Mohammad Asif for their outstanding abilities as fast bowlers, Waqar said they need to concentrate more on their fitness to have a long career in international cricket.

Commenting on the fitness problems of Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar said: “Shoaib Akhtar does have problems. They pertain to his bowling action, his body structure and his lifestyle.”

While emphasising the need of training for the fast bowlers, the Sultan of Swing said that Shoaib still has some years of cricket left in him and like many senior players before him, he will now be playing on the basis of his experience rather than pace.

Despite Pakistan’s victory in the second ODI here on Thursday, Waqar said that Pakistan needed to do better in batting. “Pakistan need half a dozen dependable batsmen in the side,” he said. “Our openers lack technique and the manner in which Salman Butt got out today was poor cricket.”