Pakistan legend Wasim Akram, who has been appointed as the mentor of Sri Lanka for their upcoming tour of South Africa, said Angelo Mathews’ side has promising fast bowlers but despite their worthy performances, they need to develop the ability to swing the ball so as to achieve more success in international cricket.
“Most of the bowlers had a pace of 130 to 140 kmph,” said Akram who himself bowled at a similar pace in his prime in the 1990s when he was one of the world’s leading players in all formats,” Wasim Akram said.
After holding a coaching session with the Lankan team, the 50-year-old Akram gave tidbits to fast-bowlers and urged them to have a keen focus on developing their bowling skills.
“The idea is to teach them how to believe in themselves and how to fox out the batsmen,” Akram said.
Akram was flanked by Lankan legends like Aravinda de Silva and Chaminda Vaas, who are in search of the right talent across the island. While relying on spinners in past years, there is a crop of young fast bowlers coming through the first-class cricket in Sri Lanka.
As Sri Lanka’s most successful bowlers have been spinners, including the record-setter Muttiah Muralitharan, it seems they’re planning to change the trend now.
Thilanga Sumathipala, Sri Lanka cricket chief, said they invited Akram as a pace specialist to guide the local players, who’re set to embark for the national side.
“We have invited him to be with us in the next two years as our consultant in pace bowling,” said Sumathipala.
The 1990s bowling sensation Wasim Akram picked 414 Test wickets and 502 in 356 one-day internationals.