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Rediff.com  » Sports » Inzamam against pacers training in India

Inzamam against pacers training in India

Source: PTI
June 23, 2005 17:22 IST
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Captain Inzamam-ul Haq is against the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to send four up and coming fast bowlers to India for training under former Australia pace bowling legend Dennis Lillee.

Instead, he wants the Board to use the services of former Pakistan fast bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

"Pakistan has produced fast bowlers of the highest quality as compared to any other country and Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis are the best choice to give training to these bowlers," he said.

Inzamam said in his 15-year international career he hasn't seen better fast bowlers than Wasim and Waqar. He was also of the opinion that since Pakistan has its own cricket academy it would be better if bowlers from other countries came and got training there.

He urged the PCB to take effective measures to check the trend of suspect bowling actions in domestic cricket.

"Thank god Shoaib Malik cleared himself from this allegation, but, still, Shabbir Ahmed is under threat. This is a serious problem and should be checked at the domestic level," he was quoted as saying by The News.

Asked why any quality off-spinner hasn't emerged on the national scene after Saqlain Mushtaq, Inzamam said the PCB had enforced a ban on three off-spinners in domestic cricket for suspect bowling actions but it is also a fact that the Pakistan team is lacking in this department since no effective off-spinner is emerging.

On the incidents of indiscipline in the dressing room during the West Indies tour, Inzamam said they were minor.

He supported makeshift captain Younis Khan and said as skipper he (Younis) had the right to send Shahid Afridi as opener in the first Test. He denied the impression that he was also involved in the brawl inside the dressing room and supported Afridi.

The 101-Test veteran acknowledged that the team needs Shoaib Akhtar for the series against England but quickly added that he would have to prove his fitness.

"Shoaib is still a match-winner and a threat to opponents," Inzamam said, adding though the bowler had declared himself fit for the West Indies tour, the PCB trainer's report was not in his favour.

Talking about the central contracts, Inzamam said it produced positive results and added that he would request the PCB to increase the number of players from 16 to 20.

"The inclusion of more players in the central contract pool will push the players to keep themselves in practice and match-fit," he stressed.

Inzamam said his team would try to force wins in Test matches against England, who will tour Pakistan in October.

"England is one of the formidable teams in the world and a winning start against them would be a good omen," he said.

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