Inzamam not in favour of sending bowlers to India

Inzamam-ul-Haq has opposed the decision of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to send fast bowlers to the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai for training and acquiring skills from Dennis Lillee, the former Australian fast bowler. The PCB had decided to send three young bowlers - Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Irshad and Najaf Shah - to train at the academy.

"Pakistan has produced fast bowlers of the highest quality as compared to any other country," Inzamam told The News, "and Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were the best choice to give training to these bowlers."

Inzamam added that in his entire international career he had not seen any better fast bowlers than Wasim and Waqar, who managed to capture 787 wickets between them in Tests, and suggested that it would be better if bowlers from other countries got specialised training in Pakistan's own academy.

Inzamam also urged the board to take adequate measures to keep suspect bowling actions under check at the domestic level. Recently Shoaib Malik and Shabbir Ahmed, were reported for having an illegal bowling action. "Thank God Shoaib Malik cleared himself from this allegation but still Shabbir Ahmed is under the threat, but this is a serious problem and should be checked at domestic level."

Speaking about the central contracts, which were recently renewed by the board for 17 players, Inzamam said, "The inclusion of more players in the central-contract pool will push the players to keep themselves in practice and match-fit."