May 27, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 21, 1429

LAHORE, May 26: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram while declaring India as hot favourites in the forthcoming Asia Cup said he might consider Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) offer, if made, to coach the national team.

“Though Karachi’s hot weather will be an additional rival for the participating teams in the Asia Cup, I see India as hot favourites for the event,” Wasim, one of the most devastating fast bowlers, told reporters after coaching young bowlers in the PCB camp on the first day at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Monday.

Pakistan is scheduled to host the Asia Cup for the first time from June 25 to July 6 and most of the matches will be staged in Karachi.

Wasim, who has not been given any key post relating to the Pakistan team, mainly because of a judgment concerning match-fixing, however, expressed the desire to return to the country what it had given to him.

“I feel honoured if the PCB offers me any assignment as I believe the country gave me a lot and it is our duty to return to it,” Wasim, who turns 42 on June 3, stated.

“If the PCB offers me any assignment I will consider it but keeping in mind my other commitments. And if I have time I will be happy to make contribution for Pakistan cricket,” Wasim said when asked to comment on reports that the PCB was considering him as coach in place of Geoff Lawson.

About Lawson, who is currently in Australia on holidays, Wasim said no doubt Lawson’s track record of 11 consecutive ODI victories (one against India and five each against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh) was good but added that the coach should reach Pakistan well before the team’s departure to Bangladesh for the three-nation tournament to be held there from June 8.

Besides Pakistan and Bangladesh, India is the other team in the tournament.

Lawson is scheduled to return here on June 3 before Pakistan team leaves for Bangladesh, three days later.

Wasim, who took 414 Test and a world record 502 one-day wickets during a scintillating career, thought Twenty20 was not the right platform to judge players’ talent, saying even mediocre players could perform in this version of the game.

He also criticised the extended duration of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).

“I have never seen such a long tournament in my life,” he said.

He praised the performance of Pakistan’s young all-rounder Sohail Tanvir in the IPL and added the bowler had a good future.

Commenting on the training camp, Wasim said talented players were attending it. But he added that it would be premature to say anything about them currently, and that he could only be in a position to predict about the best in the lot after a week or so.

However, the tall left-handed pace prodigy noted that Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan and Aamir Ali had good pace.

Besides the bowling coaching, Wasim said, the players attending the camp would also be trained to boost their fielding and batting.