Pakistan full of bowling talent: Foster

Australian bowling advisor Daryl Foster says Pakistan has enormous bowling talent that can be trained to get replacements in the future, reports South Asian Dispatch Agency.

"The boys I have watched in Pakistan fast bowlers camp are full of potential and can be trained to serve as replacements for bowlers like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis," said Foster, who arrived Monday on a 15-day training assignment.

The 65-year-old former coach is training 18 fast bowlers at a camp at the National stadium.

"It's a matter of how these young fast bowlers work. They have potential, but there is going to be a lot of work ahead of them if they are to replace the likes of Akram and Younis," he said.

"The best part of this training programme is that all the Pakistani coaches are here who can carry on my work when I go back," he said. "By the time I go back I hope they are in a packing order and it can be judged that who's the best in the pack.

"Probably the basic flaw in these youngsters is the incorrect use of the front arm, that's the key, but they have started to work on this flaw."

The Australian expert singled out Shabbir Ahmed as the best of the pack.

"Ahmed is bowling well and has overcome his injury problems and can press his claim for the Test place in the next few months," he said. "I can't see any problem in his action, he stands six feet five and is bowling well."

Ahmed, 22, was reported to International Cricket Council in 1999, but was later cleared of a suspect bowling action.

Foster said Wasim Akram had enough cricket left in him. "I don't think Akram is finished, if someone is thinking that he is out of the frame then he is silly."

Foster described express pacer Shoaib Akhtar as a "unique talent".

"Akhtar is a unique talent, but he must keep his fitness intact because in international cricket a bowler is needed to be fit for all five days," he said.

-Indo-Asian News Service