LAHORE, Oct 25: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram visited the National Cricket Academy (NCA) on Tuesday to offer tips to paceman Shoaib Akhtar.

Wasim was invited by Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer and the former national team skipper also gave advice to left-arm medium-pacer Mohammad Khalil.

Wasim, a veteran of 104 Tests with 414 wickets and 356 ODIs matches with 502 scalps said that he advised Shoaib to bowl from shorter run-up.

Shoaib had already established a confrontation-like attitude with coach Woolmer over the same advice as the bowler is not ready to adopt a shorter run-up.

Wasim said that Shoaib was looking fit and he hoped the bowler would play a key role for Pakistan in the home series against England starting with the first Test in Multan from Nov 12.

Woolmer, is still not easy with Shoaib as he refused to comment to the national press on the bowler till the selection of the team.

It appears that Woolmer had invited Wasim with the hope that he might convince Shoaib to cut short his run-up.

Wasim said that though Pakistan would have the advantage of home pitches, they had to perform both with the bat and ball to put pressure on England and emphasised that the series was not easy for Pakistan as England were strong enough in every department of the game.

Meanwhile, the training camp has concluded and the probables will now start a four-day trial match at the Qadhafi Stadium from Wednesday. After the match the team will be announced.