The myth that Wasim Akram is a great coach/mentor in the PSL

[waleed88]

Islamabad won the first PSL in 2016, Wasim Akram was the director/mentor with Dean Jones as the coach.

In 2018 Wasim Akram joined Multan Sultans as director and we thought they will be a force to reckon with. It turned out that Multan didn't even qualify for the playoffs after being undefeated in the first games 3.

In 2019 Wasim Akram has joined Karachi Kings and they are languishing at the bottom of the table.

Not only that, there is heresay that Akram was involved in a controversy, was seen swearing by a couple of journalists against someone from Lahore Qalandars side and wasn't able to control his anger in the defeat against Qalandars.

Coupled with the fact that Wasim looks like someone who doesn't like the authority of being told what to do, evidenced by his changing teams almost every year in the PSL.

It seems as if Wasim usually likes to be on the side where the grass is greener and if things are not going his way he likes to turn it around by trying something else. Not someone who sticks around in difficult times.

Would he have been a good coach for Pakistan? Evidenced by someone who cannot be on one side long term, and how our team is these days at the International level, a coach has to be very patient and empathetic to get the message across to our boys, I doubt Wasim Akram has those qualities.

 

[Chokli]

Players who aren't in the Pakistani setup, in the coaching staff or in the XI, are always the best people to select for our fans.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Lol who said that?

Haha Waqar and Wasim shouldnt be part of coaching roles.

 

[waleed88]

Players who aren't in the Pakistani setup, in the coaching staff or in the XI, are always the best people to select for our fans.

I'm not saying he should be replaced, his presence is required for the PSL to succeed. This is an opinion based on his performance so far....

 

[Chokli]

I'm not saying he should be replaced, his presence is required for the PSL to succeed. This is an opinion based on his performance so far....

I totally agree mate

 

[waleed88]

Lol who said that?

Haha Waqar and Wasim shouldnt be part of coaching roles.

All those people who wanted Wasim to be part of our setup, but kept blaming the PCB because usually in Wasim's interviews he claimed the PCB never asked for him to be coach.

It's clear on evidence why was that

 

[Abdullah719]

Exactly, it's a myth, and not a very common one since I haven't heard many people praising Wasim's coaching abilities.

Let's face it, he's involved because of his name and the aura around him which helps in the team's public image. That's pretty much it.

Same for Viv. They might be good motivators though.

 

[xricket]

KK in IPL did great under Wasim. May be it depends upon the team? And the temperament of the guys?

 

[Savak]

Lol even Wasim cannot help the over rated Mohd Amir

 

[waleed88]

KK in IPL did great under Wasim. May be it depends upon the team? And the temperament of the guys?

He was the bowling coach for KK. I haven't seen any bowlers light up under his mentorship for Multan or Karachi uptil now

 

[Hasan123]

Not many have waxed lyrical about his coaching ability . Players as talanted as Wasim don't always make great coaches as the game comes more naturally to them.

 

[The Viper]

Pretty sure most acknowledge that Wasim is a poor coach. He is only in their for that star appeal. Perhaps he offers some words to the bowlers but is for the most part a cheerleader.

 

[sshakir411]

He’s not there to build a team. Karachi Kings know this. Having him around is pretty valuable and given the short timeframe of PSL he can hardly do anything if significant value. This is similar to how the great Viv is with QG.

 

[waleed88]

He’s not there to build a team. Karachi Kings know this. Having him around is pretty valuable and given the short timeframe of PSL he can hardly do anything if significant value. This is similar to how the great Viv is with QG.

If Wasim's around for a month and he's getting big bucks from it... the bowlers should be able to get as much tips as they can from the great man himself. It seems none of them are willing to do that, didn't see any evidence of that from the bowlers in Multan or Karachi..

Luke Rhonchi teared Karachi apart as he has done in the past... Shinwari and Amir looked clueless. If Wasim is around you would think there would be a plan to get rid of Rhonchi atleast.

 

[gazza619]

I will repeat what i said two days ago in a Mickey thread.

“You dont need a coach in a T20 lol”

Please stop rating and judging people based on a T20 circus.

 

[Officer Barbrady]

He’s helpful for the bowlers particularly the left arm bowlers. Rumaan talked about how he benefited when Wasim was with Islamabad.

His role should be limited to bowling coach/consultant though

 

[sshakir411]

If Wasim's around for a month and he's getting big bucks from it... the bowlers should be able to get as much tips as they can from the great man himself. It seems none of them are willing to do that, didn't see any evidence of that from the bowlers in Multan or Karachi..

Luke Rhonchi teared Karachi apart as he has done in the past... Shinwari and Amir looked clueless. If Wasim is around you would think there would be a plan to get rid of Rhonchi atleast.

Maybe they did but couldn't execute it or tried it and it didn't work. You're making judgments based on assumptions unless you're part of the KK camp and have seen first-hand bowlers not asking him for tips.

Any pro sports team has pre and post game debriefs and I'm sure it's the case with KK.

 

[waleed88]

Maybe they did but couldn't execute it or tried it and it didn't work. You're making judgments based on assumptions unless you're part of the KK camp and have seen first-hand bowlers not asking him for tips.

Any pro sports team has pre and post game debriefs and I'm sure it's the case with KK.

Whatever is being said or done isn't working.. just like the case with Multan Sultans where Wasim was a part of last year.

The fact is you can feel a clear distinction between the professionally run teams and the others... its no surprise the top 3 teams have almost always been PZ, QG, IU

 

[mastersaan10]

That's true, so it means that moin is a better coach than Mickey????????????????

But yeah I only remember wasim talking about flick of the wrist and the ball nothing else in any of his interviews. He is a good bowler no doubt but not good coach, does he have any accreditation like certificates????

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

I never even saw of him as a coach or mentor whenever he associated himself with any PSL franchises. He's just there as star power/for the ratings similar to how Zalmi roped in Mahira Khan last season.

 

[criclove34]

Wasim waqar were great bowler but not good coach. Bob Woolmer was great coach but well below average players, we often confuse that. Coach is a like good manager who has people and tacit skills to get best out of every employees harness the best of everyone skills.

Very few great players are good coaches Allan Donald as bowling coach comes to mind. This is not just true for cricket Michael Jordon or Pete Sampras or Pele or Janghir khan were the best individual in their sports the GOAT... but coach not. This is excellent post finally someone can think

 

[Mamoon]

I don’t think anyone rates his coaching abilities. He is a massive name and an iconic face, and franchises prefer to have him involved in various capacities.

That is why keeps turning up for a difference franchise every season. If Karachi fires him, he might end up in Peshawar or Quetta next year.

Same reason why Quetta are paying millions to Viv Richards for doing high fives on the bench and some dance moves. He appears to be a glorified mascot, and I highly doubt he has any contribution to their success on the pitch.

Nevertheless, PSL needs the presence of big name coaches/mentors for its popularity and branding.

 

[Savak]

I don’t think anyone rates his coaching abilities. He is a massive name and an iconic face, and franchises prefer to have him involved in various capacities.

That is why keeps turning up for a difference franchise every season. If Karachi fires him, he might end up in Peshawar or Quetta next year.

Same reason why Quetta are paying millions to Viv Richards for doing high fives on the bench and some dance moves. He appears to be a glorified mascot, and I highly doubt he has any contribution to their success on the pitch.

Nevertheless, PSL needs the presence of big name coaches/mentors for its popularity and branding.

Once in a lifetime talents like Wasim and Viv Richards struggle to become good coaches. Viv in all his coaching assignments has not produced a single player. Wasim on the other hand from the very beginning has said that he doesn't have the capacity to be a long term coach and prefers very short term coaching gigs which the T-20 Leagues and these bowling camps allows him. Even Amir is bowling the same rubbish inspite of having Wasim Akram present.

 

[Mamoon]

Once in a lifetime talents like Wasim and Viv Richards struggle to become good coaches. Viv in all his coaching assignments has not produced a single player. Wasim on the other hand from the very beginning has said that he doesn't have the capacity to be a long term coach and prefers very short term coaching gigs which the T-20 Leagues and these bowling camps allows him. Even Amir is bowling the same rubbish inspite of having Wasim Akram present.

Coaching requires qualification. There is a reason why so many coaches take courses. The likes of Wasim and Viv for all their massive talents do not understand the art of developing the skills of other players especially the players who are not very talented.

Most of these big name players do not go through the rigors of learning the art of coaching because of their pride. They believe that players will automatically improve by their sheer presence.

 

[AFM]

All you need to do is lock your wrist and flick it

 

[Theo_14]

I know PCB are offering low salaries for the vacancies but it tells you a lot that Waqar Younis is willing to become a bowling coach whilst Wasim Akram has shown zero interest in coaching Pakistan in any capacity.

Wasim Akram is a smart man - talks like he cares for Pakistan a lot - which he does - but not enough to manage a side. A smart man who puts his self interest ahead.

Has he ever been a coach for the national team or even consultant?

 

[CricketingMinds]

Only at IPL and PSL - Wasim has been the mentor / bowling coach

 

[JaDed]

Only at IPL and PSL - Wasim has been the mentor / bowling coach

SSA wasn’t bowling well till Wasim spoke to him in the WC, he himself said that..

 

[Ellipsism]

SSA wasn’t bowling well till Wasim spoke to him in the WC, he himself said that..

As if a 10 minute conversation 30 minutes before a game had any bearing whatsoever on how Shaheen bowled in that game and the following games.

Keep him far away from any coaching set up till he gets some decent qualifications.

 

[BaankeJi]

As if a 10 minute conversation 30 minutes before a game had any bearing whatsoever on how Shaheen bowled in that game and the following games.

Why does that seem improbable to you? It seems quite possible to me. Wasim may have said something that may be easy to implement but might have escaped SSA.

 

[Saj]

I know PCB are offering low salaries for the vacancies but it tells you a lot that Waqar Younis is willing to become a bowling coach whilst Wasim Akram has shown zero interest in coaching Pakistan in any capacity.

Wasim Akram is a smart man - talks like he cares for Pakistan a lot - which he does - but not enough to manage a side. A smart man who puts his self interest ahead.

Has he ever been a coach for the national team or even consultant?

He's getting easy money around the world through media, T20 roles, mentor, ambassador-type stuff.

He's probably thinking why give this up and get involved with the PCB.

 

[Ellipsism]

Why does that seem improbable to you? It seems quite possible to me. Wasim may have said something that may be easy to implement but might have escaped SSA.

And to implement whatever he may have said requires practise. Which he did before a game how? Unless if all he said was pitch it up which I’m sure he and the coaches around him know and have told him to do so on numerous occasions. The praise for Shaheen’s turn around in the World Cup lies solely with the coaching staff and particular Azhar Mahmood.

Wasim used to hold a fast bowling camp every year or so until very recently, which failed to bring forth any improvement or new names. He’s robbed the PCB of enough money already.

 

[Savak]

He's getting easy money around the world through media, T20 roles, mentor, ambassador-type stuff.

He's probably thinking why give this up and get involved with the PCB.

Wasim perhaps has many considerations. He is diabetic for one and perhaps feels he cannot deal with the stress and pressures that are involved in Pakistan Cricket, dealing with the PCB, players, media e.t.c. He also has a young daughter and had opted out of the IPL gigs to spend more time with her. Plus based on what i have seen, i think Wasim is more effectively used as a mentor, short term gig than a long term coach. Don't think he has what it takes in the job in the long run

 

[The Viper]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Imad Wasim "Wasim Akram deserves a lot of credit for this win. He was the bowling coach, the fielding coach, the batting coach and president. Such a big name and so many jobs, there's nothing better than that" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSLFinal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PSLFinal</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1328779872517369859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[El Generico]

So second title for Wasim Akram as mentor. Must be doing something right.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

I wonder if he will take on the full time job after this success.

 

[Rana]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Imad Wasim "Wasim Akram deserves a lot of credit for this win. He was the bowling coach, the fielding coach, the batting coach and president. Such a big name and so many jobs, there's nothing better than that" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSLFinal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PSLFinal</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1328779872517369859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It was a 4 day gig. Pulled it off nicely tbf

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Once in a lifetime talents like Wasim and Viv Richards struggle to become good coaches. Viv in all his coaching assignments has not produced a single player. Wasim on the other hand from the very beginning has said that he doesn't have the capacity to be a long term coach and prefers very short term coaching gigs which the T-20 Leagues and these bowling camps allows him. Even Amir is bowling the same rubbish inspite of having Wasim Akram present.

Rahul Dravid is one example of a talented great player mentoring and building players. Even Sachin guided Virat after his horror tour to England. They had multiple sessions and Virat credits Sachin for helping him.
KKR bowlers have always credited Wasim as well so I think he is a good mentor and coach. May be he wants right amount of money for full time coaching.

 

[Mamoon]

IPL 2012, 2014

PSL 2016, 2020

Wasim regularly finds himself in the winning dugout. He either gets lucky over and over again or he is actually good at what he does.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

IPL 2012, 2014

PSL 2016, 2020

Wasim regularly finds himself in the winning dugout. He either gets lucky over and over again or he is actually good at what he does.

Tbh one can't really be lucky 4 times across two different leagues, with one of them being a benchmark for franchise cricket. He is actually pretty good at what he does.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

IPL 2012, 2014

PSL 2016, 2020

Wasim regularly finds himself in the winning dugout. He either gets lucky over and over again or he is actually good at what he does.

Champions make there own luck. Like Wasim did in 1992 WC.

 

[Mamoon]

Tbh one can't really be lucky 4 times across two different leagues, with one of them being a benchmark for franchise cricket. He is actually pretty good at what he does.

KKR haven’t won the IPL since Wasim left, KK didn’t win the PSL before Wasim arrived.

He is probably a good bowling coach/mentor, perhaps more so than what he shows in the commentary box while reading scorecards.

Unfortunately, he is not interested in working with the Pakistan team which is why we keep going back to Waqar every 2-3 years.

The only time Waqar coached in IPL was in 2013 and he was substandard to the point where he didn’t get another offer.

I don’t think he has been on the winning side in PSL so far, and we all know his marvelous track-record as coach with the Pakistan team.

However, at least he is always available for Pakistan national team.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

KKR haven’t won the IPL since Wasim left, KK didn’t win the PSL before Wasim arrived.

He is probably a good bowling coach/mentor, perhaps more so than what he shows in the commentary box while reading scorecards.

Unfortunately, he is not interested in working with the Pakistan team which is why we keep going back to Waqar every 2-3 years.

The only time Waqar coached in IPL was in 2013 and he was substandard to the point where he didn’t get another offer.

I don’t think he has been on the winning side in PSL so far, and we all know his marvelous track-record as coach with the Pakistan team.

However, at least he is always available for Pakistan national team.

Putting my Ekta Kapoor(director of boring soaps starting with name K) may be 2 Ks are lucky for Wasim

 

[naseem]

Wasim is highly influential as mentor coach and captain....no denying that

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

KKR haven’t won the IPL since Wasim left, KK didn’t win the PSL before Wasim arrived.

He is probably a good bowling coach/mentor, perhaps more so than what he shows in the commentary box while reading scorecards.

Unfortunately, he is not interested in working with the Pakistan team which is why we keep going back to Waqar every 2-3 years.

The only time Waqar coached in IPL was in 2013 and he was substandard to the point where he didn’t get another offer.

I don’t think he has been on the winning side in PSL so far, and we all know his marvelous track-record as coach with the Pakistan team.

However, at least he is always available for Pakistan national team.

The problem with Waqar is that he's stubborn in his approach, both on field and in Man Management which is why he doesn't get recalled into Franchise cricket unless the club really doesn't have a choice. For the national gig, Waqar is a relatively cost effective option as well, because he doesn't get the media coverage or the ad $$$ that Wasim does so he low balls the position and PCB being a cash strapped board rehires him in hopes that he'd figure the gig out this time around.

As far as Wasim goes, trust me on this PCB are desperate to get him in the coaching setup. They have multiple times tried persuading him via back channels but Wasim always quotes a price that is almost on par with how much his Indian counterparts make for national duty and in that, the deals inevitably breaks down.

Also Wasim doesn't really believe in a top down hierarchy but Waqar and the likes of Misbah do so even though Wasim basically offers a better prospect as a coach you can't really overrule him on stuff like HPC policies and selection (which can be accomplished against Misbah/Waqar) this is why the PCB still haven't fully hedged their bets on Wasim yet.

There are also a few other complex issues that I can't write here due to reasons that will not be mentioned but PCB (if they are to get Wasim) would (a) basically give him his Munh boli Qeemat and (b) Get lost after that until his contract expires - Both cases extreme difficult for them to cater to.

 

[MenInG]

Wasim Akram has taken an indirect dig at fellow former Pakistan left-arm speedster Mohammad Amir. The 54-year-old cricket legend claimed he hates it when coaches are disrespected and revealed he doesn't wish to be a part of Pakistan's team management because of the heat and criticism they face from players and fans.

Wasim Akram is one of the greatest fast bowlers to ever play the game. Hence, it might be a bit perplexing for people to fathom why he isn't a part of Pakistan's backroom staff that consists of other former players like Waqar Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq.

On Cricket Pakistan's YouTube channel, Wasim Akram revealed that although he has coached franchise teams, he didn't have the time to commit to the team for most of the year.

"Firstly, if you associate yourself not just with Pakistan but with any other international team, you need to give at least 200-250 days in a year. I feel I cannot manage so much work away from Pakistan and my family. Generally, players who want any sort of advice contact me and I try to help them," Wasim Akram said.

Mohammad Amir had openly come out in public to slam head coach Misbah and bowling coach Waqar for allegedly "torturing" him and not backing him enough. Akram was disappointed with the disrespect coaches were facing, both by players and on social media. In this regard, Akram said.

"Secondly, I am not a fool. I do look at social media and the way some players humiliate their coaches and seniors. Coaches aren't going to play cricket, it's the players who have to play. A coach's job is just to plan and it isn't completely his fault if the team is losing. I cannot tolerate nonsense against coaches.""I do not have time to run PCB" - Wasim Akram

Wasim Akram was also vocal about rumors that he controlled the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The former speedster certainly did not go down easy on those tarnishing his image. He stated:

"I do read newspapers and I am aware of which journalist talks about me controlling PCB. But I feel that all the credible journalists in Pakistan need to do a bit of homework. I don't have the time to run PCB, I am just in the committee and that is an honorary job."
With the kind of young talent the Pakistan pace attack possesses at the moment, Wasim Akram's presence could have helped them take their game to the next level. It remains to be seen whether the Sultan of Swing will join the Pakistan team management in the future.

https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket...e-coaches-wasim-akram-takes-dig-mohammad-amir

 

[Saj]

Wasim Akram in an interview:

"I can accept criticism if the team is not doing well. But in Pakistan cricket, it is intolerable the way the captain and coaches are not only criticised but also abused by everyone,"

"The abuse and at times hate which the captain and coach have to bear, I don't think I am up to it. I don't have that tolerance level, especially when it comes to the use of social media. They are some people who I think only sit on Twitter day and night to send out negative comments."

"League cricket is different, the pressure and expectation levels are different, which is why I am involved with the Karachi Kings side in the PSL."

"I am always willing to be of service to Pakistan cricket but not at the cost of having to bear unnecessary criticism and abuse from anyone out there."

 

[Suleiman]

Underrated captain, underrated coach and underrated batsman.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Islamabad won the first PSL in 2016, Wasim Akram was the director/mentor with Dean Jones as the coach.

In 2018 Wasim Akram joined Multan Sultans as director and we thought they will be a force to reckon with. It turned out that Multan didn't even qualify for the playoffs after being undefeated in the first games 3.

In 2019 Wasim Akram has joined Karachi Kings and they are languishing at the bottom of the table.

Not only that, there is heresay that Akram was involved in a controversy, was seen swearing by a couple of journalists against someone from Lahore Qalandars side and wasn't able to control his anger in the defeat against Qalandars.

Coupled with the fact that Wasim looks like someone who doesn't like the authority of being told what to do, evidenced by his changing teams almost every year in the PSL.

It seems as if Wasim usually likes to be on the side where the grass is greener and if things are not going his way he likes to turn it around by trying something else. Not someone who sticks around in difficult times.

Would he have been a good coach for Pakistan? Evidenced by someone who cannot be on one side long term, and how our team is these days at the International level, a coach has to be very patient and empathetic to get the message across to our boys, I doubt Wasim Akram has those qualities.

Wasim is on the record stating that he is not a good coach and neither is this most favorite job to do.

And rightly so.
Give 100 great talented youngsters to Viv, and give him $100 Million and 10 years time, and he can’t produce another Viv.

Maradona can not produce another Maradona

Tendulkar can’t produce another Tendulkar

Heck, after 10 years of coaching Pak pacers, Waqar can’t teach a single bowler as to how bowl those in swinging Yorkers.

There are tons of videos on YT where Wasim tells you how to swing. He will tell you to keep the shinny surface on side and the rough surface on the other side - and the ball will swing. Many have tried - no one can swing it like him.

You can’t teach the extra special talent that you are born with, to others.

An extra special talented player is hardly ever a good coach.