ABU DHABI, Nov 17: Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis says pace bowling skills in the world have gone down.

“Except for Brett Lee or Shoaib Akhtar, if he is fit, we do not really see too many fast bowlers,” said Waqar.

“Most are medium pace or slow medium pace bowlers and this has got lot to do with the introduction of biomechanics. Nowadays, coaches try to prevent injuries and all of them are being coached heavily,” he stated.

“Fast bowlers are bound to get injured; but these coaches, in order to prevent injuries, modify their bowling actions. As a result, we have more of medium or slow medium pacers than genuine quickies.

“True, fast bowlers cannot escape injury but that should not prevent one to try and attempt to bowl fast. I believe coaches, by fiddling too much with bowlers’ actions, have wiped out all chances of getting good pacers,” Waqar pointed.

About Shoaib Akhtar, Waqar said: “He is still a match-winner.”—Agencies