June 02, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 27, 1429

LAHORE, June 1: A one-day training camp for fast bowlers conducted by the former Test captain Wasim Akram concluded here on Sunday.

Several promising young bowlers picked from the national Under-19 and Under-16 competitions were able to benefit from Wasim’s experience. Of them according to the left-handed pacer, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Mohammad Talha, Mohammad Aamir are likely to be good future prospects.

It was, however, a short camp and Wasim said that he tried his best to inform his students about the finer points of the game.

About Talha, he was of the view that even though the bowler possessed good speed (140 plus), he needed to improve his wicket-taking skills.

“Speed alone is not enough to help you get wickets and there are a number of tactics, which you must know too,” he said.

“For example, in order to emerge as a world-class fast bowler, you have to know when and where to bowl a yorker or a slow delivery. That’s where the fun lies,” Wasim explained.

Talha, a lad from Faisalabad, has been declared as a future prospect by NCA director Mudassar Nazar and bowling coach Aaqib Javed.

Later PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf, who distributed the certificates to the bowlers, said that he was thankful to Wasim for giving the young bowlers his precious time. He said the bowler will always be remembered for his great service to the country and the PCB would always welcome him to share his expertise with the youngsters.

The chairman said that the PCB would also be holding a camp for spinners where renowned Test spinners Intikhab Alam and Tauseef Ahmed would impart their skill and knowledge to the upcoming bowlers.

Dr Nasim said that the PCB needed at least 22 players of equal talent for the national squad.

“In case of injury to any of the players of choice, his replacement must be equally-skilled as has been seen in the Australian side,” he said.

Following attended the camp: Shahzad Rana (Islamabad), Mohammad Altaf (Islamabad), Nazar Hussain (Pishin), Mohammad Talha (Faisalabad), Abdul Ameer (Karachi), Wahab Riaz (Lahore), Sohail Khan (Malakand), Anwar Ali (Karachi), Mohammad Aamir (Gujjar Khan), Adil Raza (Gujranwala), Mohammad Rameez (Rawalpindi), Junaid Khan (Matra, NWFP), Kumail Abbas (Multan), Naqqash Basharat (Islamabad), Mohammad Ali (Sialkot), Kaleem Sana-ur-Rehman (Rawalpindi).