New Pak bowling coach vows to produce new ``Waqars and Waseems``

Karachi: The Pakistan cricket team``s new bowling coach, Mohammad Akram, has vowed to produce new Waqars and Waseems, adding that he wanted the young crop of fast bowlers to be as lethal as the pacers of yesteryears.

Akram also said that Pakistan was lucky that unlike other countries, cricket was still the most popular game here. "That``s why we produce so many fast bowlers who only need to be polished," The former pacer will be traveling to Dubai in the next few days to join the national team and kick-start coaching. The Pakistan Cricket Board appointed Akram as their bowling coach for a probationary period of one year. The 37-year-old replaces Aaqib Javed, who left the job in March this year to take up a coaching assignment in the United Arab Emirates. "We have appointed Akram as our bowling coach for a period of one year after shortlisting two candidates," PCB director Intikhab Alam had said. Akram brings rich experience as a bowler, having played nine Tests and 23 one-day interntionals for Pakistan between 1995-2001 and also represented Northamptonshire, Essex, Sussex and Surrey on the English county circuit. He played 125 matches and picked up 415 wickets in his 15-year first-class career. IANS