Akram declines PCB invitation for pacers

Karachi: Citing his busy schedule, former captain and bowling great Wasim Akram has declined an invitation from the Pakistan Cricket Board to hold a training camp for the fast bowlers in Lahore this month. Wasim said that due to his busy schedule including his commentary assignments he would be unable to take up the PCB offer until March next year.

"I would love to work with some of the younger fast bowlers in Pakistan. Unfortunately my professional commitments and job leave me little time," Akram told reporters here. "But I have time in March and I am willing to hold a camp at that time," he added.

Akram, one of the greatest left arm pacers in world cricket also conceded that pace bowlers could play an important role on the coming tour to India. "Although one should expect batting wickets for the T20 and one-day matches but if a team has a battery of good fast bowlers they are always a big asset on any surface," he said.

Wasim said that due to busy schedule including his commentary assignments he would be unable to take up the offer.

He said it was true that for the last one year the spinners had held the sway in Pakistan team but said Pakistan cricket had a rich history of pace bowlers and he didn't see it dying down. "There is immense talent in Pakistan cricket which is good for us."

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