Wasim confident in Pakistan’s fast bowling reserves

KARACHI: Pace legend Wasim Akram said Saturday he was confident Pakistan’s pool of young fast bowling talent would secure their future as he prepared to train a group of budding bowlers.

"Pakistan has enormous talent," said Wasim at the launch of the 13-day camp under the Pakistan Cricket Board.

"Talent keeps coming because there is a passion for bowling fast in Pakistan so we need to nurture the talent and I am confident that the future is secure."

The 49-year-old, regarded as one of the best left-arm paceman to have played the game, will train around 20 young bowlers from across the country, in particular from the tribal areas along the Afghan border and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

"I am happy that bowlers from remote areas have come to the camp and even though the 13-day period is short but I am sure these bowlers will learn the basics, like I did when I was young," he said.

Himself plucked from nowhere during a talent hunt camp in 1984, Wasim rose to enormous heights at international level, taking 414 Test and 502 one-day wickets during an illustrious career.

He formed a lethal new-ball pairing with Waqar Younis, now head coach of the national team, in the 1990s. They were dubbed "The two Ws" who helped Pakistan win a number of series, famously in England in 1992.