Foreign coaches are neutral, says Akram

As a bowler, I was not scared of any batsman. They are not supposed to scare you; you have to scare them." 

Sure, Wasim Akram did that all right, and, hence, that was his reply to a schoolboy, one of many who couldn't stop indulging in the fast bowler's aura while he was in Mumbai on Thursday for a function organised by Roche Diagnostics (India) Pvt Ltd, to create awareness about diabetes.

The former Pakistan bowler and captain was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 30, but still tormented batsmen the world over even eight years after that.

An inspiration to fast bowlers, Akram now hopes to get involved in coaching under-17 cricketers. "But there are too many failings in cricket systems in the subcontinent," he told Cricket Correspondent Deepti Patwardhan.

How much of a difference do you think you will make by spreading word about diabetes?

Diabetes is a big problem in Third World countries. It takes a while before it is even diagnosed. People don't know because there is no pain. It is just weight loss after a while.

I think it will make a difference. Me going to the people, motivating them, telling them they can lead a normal life can help erase a lot of wrong notions about diabetes.

People think you get tired quickly when you are a diabetic. But I have taken about 190 wickets in One Day International matches after I was diagnosed for diabetes, and lots even in Test cricket, and never got tired. 

Coming to cricket, why is there a trend in the subcontinent to have coaches from outside?

Very simple; 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?

It is the 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.

Intikhab Alam has taken over as coach of the Punjab cricket team.

I think it is very good that he's coaching a team at that level. You have to make a difference to cricketers at that age.

Yeh nahi ki maine sirf Pakistan ki coaching kar li, ya India ki coaching kar li. (Not that you will only coach the Pakistan team or the Indian team).

Allan Border has been coaching the under-19 team for such a long time. Javed Miandad keeps saying he coached the Pakistan cricket team. You also have to help the young kids.

Any ambitions of taking up coaching?

Not in Pakistan. The PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) hasn't called me up since I retired. Coaching is a very organised thing, and I am not. I do the commentary and leave; that's better. But I would like to help the children, the under-16 and under-17.

Do you think bowlers are overworked and over-trained nowadays? Why do they break down so frequently?

We are all professionals and we cannot complain that we are being overworked. Basically, the bowlers need to weight train, strengthen their muscles, their hamstrings. Bowlers have been breaking down all the while. It happens.

Someone like Ashish Nehra is exceptional. Good bowler, but gets injured every other day. He is an exception. But look at Irfan Pathan; he has played for almost a year now without getting injured. 

Do you pass on tips to Irfan Pathan regularly?

No, not when I am in Pakistan. But whenever we meet I tell him some things. 

How do you assess Shoaib Malik's performance? He has done brilliantly with the bat and ball.

He 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.