Akram spends 3 hours giving tips to PIA pacers......

KARACHI: Pakistan’s fast bowling great Wasim Akram on Monday returned to the bowling crease, but not as a player — but as a coach as he spent considerable time giving tips to the young pacers of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

Wasim, who is rated as one of the fast bowling greats with his career haul of 414 Test and 502 one-day wickets, spent some three hours taking questions and passing on advice to Umar Gul, Najaf Shah, Fazle-Akber, Mohammad Zahid and Jan Nisar Khan.

The venue was the National Bank complex where PIA is playing its Patron’s Trophy game against Sui Gas. "The session today was a big help as Wasim bhai is a great bowler. The small things that he pointed out today helped a lot and hopefully I can put it to good use if I get a chance to play against India," Gul said.

Gul and Najaf — a left-arm pacer — posed several questions to the former Pakistan captain on how to use the fingers and wrist to swing the ball both ways and how to control the pace of the ball.

Wasim’s outstanding skills as a left-arm pacer were visible when he showed them how to lock the wrists and maintain an unorthodox grip on the ball to make it swing into the batsman. "I enjoyed this session because since my retirement I’ve not got a chance to work out properly with our younger bowlers. But I’m always open and available for any youngster who wants to come and learn from my experience," Wasim said. Wasim also spent time talking to Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik and discussing the coming series against India.

Najaf and gul will benefit greatly. Najaf is probs best pak leftie bowler so inshallah it'll help him further his career

Why wasn't Sami included in this training? it would have been good to have him gain some consistency, and I think wisdom is the only thing that can really help with that...

only for Pia bowlers but wasim is ready to help anyone if they ask him. Imran Khan will help sami inshallah

PIA invited Wasim .... not PCB

Thats why. Its the fight of egos between PCB and Wasim ... and I blamce PCB.

If I (or for that matter any sane individual) was Wasim or Waqar, he'd be doing the same that they are doing right now.

is that the same mohammad zahid or different one?

There used to be two Mohammed Zahids (one an off spinner and one fast bowler). Dont know who is this one.

Your post is a very sad reminder of "what would have been".

I doubt Wasim would be giving tips to an off spinner...

Najaf Shah is a really promising fast bowler, I certianly hope Wasim takes his time with him. They are both left handers!

This should have happened last year, but he was helping the Indian pacers. He needs to help the Pak pacers. if only Woolmer and Akram boath coach Pak, then Pak will be a world class team

More info please - it's not the spinner, so is this THE original Zahid or is it the new young fast bowler also called Mohammad Zahid that we mentioned here about a month or two ago?

thats quite interesting DM.. and scary too! - im also interested

So are there really now 3 Muhd Zahids?? This is getting very confusing!

..its gotta be that new kid mo zahid!!

Here is Geo's coverage of the news, including short Wasim Akram, Umar Gul and Najaf Shah interviews.

Thanx for the clip, good to see The Great Wasim Akram giving tips to talented youngsters like Umar Gul.

WOW 3hrs

Woolmer should request to offer Waqar or Wasim a seasonal job to work with our fast bowlers...Who knows, with a little bit of leadership, Umar Gul or similar seamers could become the new Waqar, Wasim or even better, an Imran Khan!

I can't wait for the day we get some1 the calibre of the THE 2 W'S BACK