Wasim Akram roped in as mentor for Sri Lanka fast bowlers ahead of South Africa tour

[Abdullah719]

Colombo: Sri Lanka on Wednesday said it has roped in legendary Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram as a mentor ahead of the team’s gruelling tour of South Africa in December. Akram, 50, will conduct a day-long coaching clinic in Colombo on Thursday, Sri Lanka Cricket said, in what would be the first of a series of programmes involving foreign experts. “We are honoured that Mr. Akram has accepted our invitation to be a part of this initiative,” Sri Lanka Cricket chief Thilanga Sumathipala said. Sumathipala also said the 2019 World Cup could be within the grasp of Sri Lanka if the team is given the right guidance. Sri Lanka won the World Cup in 1996 but choked twice in the finals of the 2007 and 2011 editions.

The latest coaching session comes as the victorious team returned home Tuesday after beating Zimbabwe in a two-Test series in Harare and lifting a triangular tournament that also involved the West Indies. Regarded as one of the best left-arm pacemen ever to grace the game, Akram took 414 Test wickets and 502 in 356 one-day internationals – both still a Pakistan record. Sri Lanka are set to tour South Africa for three Tests, three T20 matches and five ODIs starting December 26, with national coach Graham Ford warning of a tough challenge against the formidable Proteas.

Sri Lanka, who also won a three-Test home series against Australia in August, are ranked seventh in Test ratings behind South Africa on fifth. Earlier, legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram threw his support behind under-fire One-Day International (ODI) skipper Azhar Ali saying that the latter should be given some more time to prove himself as a leader, reported ANI.

http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/wasim-akram-roped-in-as-mentor-for-sri-lanka-fast-bowlers-552825

 

[Justcrazy]

Lanka taking tour of SA seriously.

It will be tough for them . Rabda , Styen and Philander on those pitches would be deadly.

 

[Hasan123]

Hopefully for Sri Lankas sake he has more to say than "lock your wrist and flick it"

 

[Thivagar]

What is a "DAY LONG CLINIC" really going to do ?

 

[msb314]

Good for SL - glad to see they took the initiative but not sure if there bowlers have the talent and strategy for execution for Wasim's mentorship to be useful in the first place

 

[jeetu]

Chief guest Wasim Akram heaps praise on Sri Lanka: Mathews is Dialog Cricketer of the Year

http://dailynews.lk/2016/12/01/sports/100778

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the Dialog Cricketer of the Year 2015 at the Dialog Cricket Awards 2016 held at Waters Edge, Battaramulla last night, while retired cricketer Tillakaratne Dilshan was voted the Dialog People’s Player of the Year polling as many as 493,126 votes through sms and web voting.

Mathews also bagged two other awards in a glittering ceremony graced by Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera and Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram who was the chief guest – the All-rounder of the Year for both Test and One-Day Internationals.

The awards which featured the performances of Sri Lanka’s cricketers for 2015 saw Dilshan and fast bowler Lasith Malinga bag two awards apiece.

Dilshan also won the T20 Batsman of the Year while Malinga picked up the Bowler of the Year award for both categories ODI and T20.

Wasim who played in 19 Tests and 59 ODIs against Sri Lanka between 1985 and 2002 recalled many memories of the matches between the two countries since his first visit to the country with Imran Khan’s Pakistan side in 1985.

“We had many major battles on and off the field, but lots of them off the field. Sri Lanka is a memorable place for me. It’s a ‘Heaven on Earth’ and we call it the Pearl Island,” said Wasim.

“What I like about the country is the positive energy that generates from the people. Everyone in Sri Lanka is happy and with a smile on their face. When I walk on the road I feel safe and it’s like my second home. People smile and say hello and some want to take selfies,” he said.

Wasim said his love for the country has made him an unofficial ambassador of Sri Lanka and wherever he went he always told people that Sri Lanka was one country they should not miss visiting.

Speaking of the country’s cricket Wasim said, “Sri Lanka played cricket in the real spirit. They are quite calm but deadly.”

Wasim praised the school system in Sri Lanka and said that it was “an unmatchable school cricket structure” that has helped the country produce so many great cricketers like Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga, Chaminda Vaas, Sanath Jayasuriya and Muthiah Muralitharan.

Wasim thanked Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala for inviting him to the awards presentation and said, “I am always available for Sri Lanka Cricket in any capacity. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are brotherly countries and one should help each other.”

 

[Abdullah719]

Wasim Akram says Sri Lanka has pace, needs swing

KARACHI: Legendary Pakistani paceman Wasim Akram Thursday said that Sri Lanka had a promising crop of fast bowlers despite their traditional reliance on spin after holding a coaching session with the islanders on Thursday. After spending several hours with the national team’s main established strike bowlers and promising youngsters, Akram said there was no lack of raw pace, but they needed to develop their ability to swing the ball.

“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. “The idea is to teach them how to believe in themselves and how to fox out the batsmen.” Akram was joined at the SCC by Sri Lankan legends Aravinda de Silva and Chaminda Vaas, both of whom had played against the Pakistan swing king.

Vaas, a former seamer, was recently tasked with identifying fast bowling talent across the cricket-mad island. Regarded as one of the best left-arm pacemen ever to grace the game, Akram took 414 Test wickets and 502 in 356 one-day internationals - both still a Pakistan record. Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Thilanga Sumathipala said they invited Akram to mentor local players in the next two years and visit the island at least twice a year. “We have invited him to be with us in the next two years as our consultant in pace bowling,” said Sumathipala. Sri Lanka, who have just completed a clean sweep of Zimbabwe, are to embark on a tour of South Africa later this month where they will play three Tests, three T20 matches and five ODIs.

http://dailytimes.com.pk/sports/02-Dec-16/wasim-akram-says-sri-lanka-has-pace-needs-swing

 

[marlonbrowndo]

KARACHI: Legendary Pakistani paceman Wasim Akram Thursday said that Sri Lanka had a promising crop of fast bowlers despite their traditional reliance on spin after holding a coaching session with the islanders on Thursday. After spending several hours with the national team’s main established strike bowlers and promising youngsters, Akram said there was no lack of raw pace, but they needed to develop their ability to swing the ball.

“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. “The idea is to teach them how to believe in themselves and how to fox out the batsmen.” Akram was joined at the SCC by Sri Lankan legends Aravinda de Silva and Chaminda Vaas, both of whom had played against the Pakistan swing king.

Vaas, a former seamer, was recently tasked with identifying fast bowling talent across the cricket-mad island. Regarded as one of the best left-arm pacemen ever to grace the game, Akram took 414 Test wickets and 502 in 356 one-day internationals - both still a Pakistan record. Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Thilanga Sumathipala said they invited Akram to mentor local players in the next two years and visit the island at least twice a year. “We have invited him to be with us in the next two years as our consultant in pace bowling,” said Sumathipala. Sri Lanka, who have just completed a clean sweep of Zimbabwe, are to embark on a tour of South Africa later this month where they will play three Tests, three T20 matches and five ODIs.

http://dailytimes.com.pk/sports/02-Dec-16/wasim-akram-says-sri-lanka-has-pace-needs-swing

I have a fair idea of what advice he's gonna give them to generate said swing. Hint : It involves locking something and flicking it.

 

[kingusama92]

Highlights from SL camp.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Is it his stint for only that series? If so then I am disappointed with wasim as never going for any full time coaching stint with any team. I would love him as our bowling coach.

 

[Big Mac]

What is a "DAY LONG CLINIC" really going to do ?

Keep his name in the news so he can get another cushy "consulting" gig in six months time

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Is it his stint for only that series? If so then I am disappointed with wasim as never going for any full time coaching stint with any team. I would love him as our bowling coach.

I'll save your country near a million dollars by giving you the exact same coaching methodology as Akram would give to you lot. Heck I'd just type it here and it would be 98-99 percent accurate and compatibly similar to what Wasim might teach you.

So here it goes......


First You gotta Lock it,
Once it's locked....
You Flick it......


There you go !!

 

[Red Devil]

Do people expect Wasim to wave a magic wand over bowlers and turn then into world beaters lmao? Obviously he's going to tell them about locking and flicking the damn wrist because that's what you have to do.

 

[kingusama92]

Do people expect Wasim to wave a magic wand over bowlers and turn then into world beaters lmao? Obviously he's going to tell them about locking and flicking the damn wrist because that's what you have to do.

This time it's a "day long clinic", so he might not even get a chance to give the classic "lock it and flick it" speech.

Poor SL bowlers. Will miss out.

 

[Itachi]

Only team that has failed to use wasim's guidance.... Pakistan. And that's a big irony to be honest.