Legendary paceman Wasim Akram on Tuesday hailed Bangladesh’s decision to tour Pakistan next month, saying it was an important step on the road to reviving international cricket in the country. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday said it has agreed in principle to tour Pakistan to restore international cricket, which has been suspended since militant attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.
BCB spokesman Jalal Yunus said in Dhaka that Pakistan had proposed a one-day international and a Twenty20 game to be played in Lahore on January 12 and 13. “It’s a welcome decision and I hope that the tour takes place as agreed because Pakistan badly needs international cricket and one series will convince other countries to tour,” Wasim told reporters. Bangladesh had accepted an invitation to tour Pakistan in April for a short limited-over series but the Dhaka High Court blocked the tour on security grounds. Officials have said they see no judicial bar this time. “Pakistan badly needs international cricket and I fear that if this suspension continues for another two (or) three years then it will affect the standard of Pakistan cricket,” said Wasim, Pakistan’s all-time top Test wicket-taker. “I think the overall security situation in Pakistan is improving and if we put in place the best arrangements for the Bangladesh series then other teams will also follow suit,” he said. But the Pakistan Cricket Board has been cautious over the prospects of Bangladesh touring, with president Zaka Ashraf telling local media negotiations were under way, but if a series took place, it would be in January. India’s inability to pick 20 wickets in a Test match was exposed as the visiting England side won a series in India after 28 years. In an exclusive chat with espnstar.com from Karachi on Wednesday, former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram believes that the future of Indian bowling is rickety.
“To be very honest, the future of Indian bowling looks bleak. Zaheer Khan looked average in the three Tests and then got dropped. Ishant Sharma was okay in patches but after five years at the international level you have to be more consistent. I am afraid he is going the Mohammad Sami way – a wasted talent. Umesh Yadav seems to be injury prone and the selectors don’t pick Varun Aaron,” said Akram.
Apart from Pragyan Ojha (20 wickets) and Ravichandran Ashwin (12), no Indian bowler bagged more than 5 wickets in the series. Akram feels it’s time to ring in bowling changes for the future of Indian cricket. “It’s time that India look for new faces or tell the present bunch to shape up or ship out. I will suggest a certain Shami Ahmed to get a look in. The Bengal pacer is just 22 years old but has tremendous potential. Having worked with him for Kolkata Knight Riders from 2011 season, I believe bowlers like him are the forward for Team India,” the KKR consultant said. A medium-pacer from Bengal, Shami made his first-class debut in 2010 against Assam, picking up three wickets. In a Ranji Trophy match against Hyderabad this season, on a green top at Eden Gardens, he took 4/36 and 6/71, and scored 15 not out from 6 balls in the second innings to help his side win the match by 4 wickets, along with Wriddhiman Saha. The MS Dhoni-led team has come under intense criticism from all quarters and even coach Duncan Fletcher is under scanner. Akram believes England’s support staff was better equipped than its Indian counterpart.
