39 year old Akram has confirmed to the Pakistan Cricket Board that he hopes the PCB will offer him more security with a 2 year contract instead of another short term deal.

by Saj Sadiq (23rd September 2013)

Pakistan bowling coach Mohammad Akram may have got a one-month extension to his contract which will allow him to continue working for the Pakistan Cricket Board for the upcoming series against South Africa in the UAE, but it remains to be seen if he will continue in the role after the series which commences on 14th October in Abu Dhabi. The PCB with its current limited powers due to a court order which is yet to be overturned, extended the former pace bowler's deal this week along with team manager Moin Khan's stint as team manager, but the PCB's current predicament with the court order hanging over its head means that discussions regarding long term deals aren't possible.

PakPassion.net understands that 39 year old Akram has confirmed to the Pakistan Cricket Board that he hopes the PCB will offer him more security with a two year contract instead of another short term deal. In addition to the possibility of a new contract as Pakistan’s bowling coach, Akram is also understood to be considering offers from several English County sides. 

Akram’s contract ended after the recently concluded series against Zimbabwe and he has proven to be a popular member of the coaching staff, with several of the current Pakistani pace bowling attack praising Akram for his work with them. Whilst Akram has been commuting from Lahore to London and touring with the Pakistan side, his family have remained behind in the UK, which is an issue for Akram and his family. 

Akram's agent speaking with PakPassion.net confirmed that Akram hopes that the PCB will offer him a longer term deal than the 12 month contract he has just completed. In addition he stated “travelling back and forth from Pakistan to the UK hasn’t been easy for Akram and his family. Ideally Akram would like to shift his family to Lahore but it all depends upon if he is offered a two year deal by the Pakistan Cricket Board.”

Akram took over the role of bowling coach after Aaqib Javed’s resignation and has worked with the likes of Wasim Akram at training camps for pace bowlers in Pakistan as well as performing his duties with the national team. Whilst Pakistan’s batsmen have continued to struggle, the bowlers have continued to perform well and on a consistent basis.

His agent further confirmed that whilst Akram was seeking job security from the PCB, he was also weighing up options to coach in County cricket in England. “A few county sides have been in touch with Akram about the possibility of him working with their bowlers and that is something that would appeal to him. His priority though is to continue to work with the crop of Pakistani bowlers and continue the efforts and time that he has put in with the likes of Mohammad Irfan, Zulfiqar Babar, Junaid Khan and Rahat Ali. He definitely feels that the job is work in progress and would dearly like to continue to work with Pakistan's growing crop of young bowlers."

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