Akram offers to help Nehra, Khan
Pakistan speedster Wasim Akram has offered to help
injury-stricken left-arm pacers Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan, who have been
excluded from the Indian team that is to play a limited-overs series in
South Africa from October 5.
"Ask them to come to Pakistan or to speak to me on the phone and I would be
glad to pass on a few tips," Akram was quoted as saying in a report
published in the Times of India on Wednesday.
While Nehra, who idolises Akram, is nursing a groin injury, Khan is out due
to a shin injury. Akram himself has had a history of back and groin
problems. He said he was fortunate to have Imran Khan, a former captain and
fast bowler, help him out whenever he had injury problems.
Akram, a left-arm bowler, said that there is nothing to be alarmed about as
these kind of injuries are normal among fast bowlers in the 17-25 age-group.
"Both Ashish and Zaheer are young (they are 22). This is an age at which the
muscles in the shoulder, back, and groin are not fully developed," said the
former Pakistan captain. "Any weakness in these muscles can cause a
breakdown."
Akram suggested that the two Indians perform abdominal exercises to
strengthen their muscles. He also said that Khan's injury could be due to
improper footwear that he might have used on the soft grounds of Zimbabwe
and Sri Lanka recently.
He suggested that the Indians try out hand-stitched shoes that are made in
Birmingham. These are heavier and reduce the tension in the back and legs
while bowling on soft grounds, he said.
Akram also said these injuries occur due to lack of proper physical training
in the formative years. "In both India and Pakistan there are not many
people who can recommend proper training," he explained. "It is more of a
trial and error."
The Pakistani also said that even player awareness is quite low in the two
countries.
--Indo-Asian News Service
Mail Cricket Editor
