Shoaib asked to keep long run-up
Saturday, 8 November 2008
KARACHI, Nov 7 (AP): New Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam backed fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar to keep his long run-up.
Bob Woolmer and Geoff Lawson, former foreign coaches of Pakistan, had tried to convince Akhtar to bowl with a shortened run-up.
"If you shorten his run-up, it might affect his rhythm," Alam said Friday.
"He is a genuine fast bowler and his run-up is very important."
Akhtar refused to shorten his run-up, sometimes resulting in his overs taking longer than the usual four minutes to complete.
"We will work on making sure he takes four minutes for an over," Alam said.
Pakistan is scheduled to leave for Abu Dhabi Sunday to play three one-day internationals against West Indies. The team hasn't played a Test in 2008 due to the security reservations of foreign teams. Its next Test series is against India at home in January.
"I don't believe in making excuses that we haven't played that often (in 2008)," Alam said.
Alam was appointed coach last month after new PCB chairman Ijaz Butt terminated Lawson's contract nine months before it was due to expire.
Bob Woolmer and Geoff Lawson, former foreign coaches of Pakistan, had tried to convince Akhtar to bowl with a shortened run-up.
"If you shorten his run-up, it might affect his rhythm," Alam said Friday.
"He is a genuine fast bowler and his run-up is very important."
Akhtar refused to shorten his run-up, sometimes resulting in his overs taking longer than the usual four minutes to complete.
"We will work on making sure he takes four minutes for an over," Alam said.
Pakistan is scheduled to leave for Abu Dhabi Sunday to play three one-day internationals against West Indies. The team hasn't played a Test in 2008 due to the security reservations of foreign teams. Its next Test series is against India at home in January.
"I don't believe in making excuses that we haven't played that often (in 2008)," Alam said.
Alam was appointed coach last month after new PCB chairman Ijaz Butt terminated Lawson's contract nine months before it was due to expire.