MUMBAI, Oct 7: "As a bowler, I was not scared of any batsman. They are not supposed to scare you; you have to scare them" declared Pakistan's legendary pace bowler Wasim Akram on Thursday.

An inspiration to fast bowlers, Wasim now hopes to get involved in coaching under-17 cricketers. "But there are too many failings in cricket systems in the subcontinent," he added.

Asked why is there a trend in the subcontinent to have coaches from outside? "We cricketers feel more comfortable with foreign coaches. We feel they don't have any personal agendas against us and will be neutral. We feel we can trust them. That's what I felt as a cricketer."

Are sides like Australia more professional? Wasim said it was culture that's different. Besides they have a proper system for everything. "In Pakistan, if you have to become a cricketer you have to be a politician first."

Wasim said he thinks it was "very good" that former Pakistani coach Intikhab Alam has taken over as coach of Indian Punjab cricket team. "You have to make a difference to cricketers at that age."

On any ambitions of taking up coaching? Wasim replied "not in Pakistan. PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) hasn't called me up since I retired. Coaching is a very organised thing, and I am not. I do commentary and leave; that's better. But I would like to help children, under-16 and under-17."

Asked how he thought bowlers are overworked and over-trained nowadays? Why do they break down so frequently? He replied: "We are all professionals. We cannot complain we are being overworked. Basically, bowlers need to weight train, strengthen their muscles, their hamstrings. Bowlers have been breaking down all the while. It happens."

"Pakistan's Shoaib Malik is a top all-rounder. He is getting better day by day. I said four years ago that he was a very good prospect and now he is winning matches on his own." -PPI