Wasim and Waqar may have Fared Differently Without Imran Khan: Shoaib Akhtar
Photo Credits: Wisden
Baaghi TV: Shoaib Akhtar says that it is possible that history might have been written differently if Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis had debuted after the retirement of Imran Khan and not benefited by his tutelage.
During the Day 2 analysis of the 1st Test between England and Pakistan for PTV Sports, where Shoaib Akhtar and Rashid Latif appear as experts, a photo of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis flanking their captain Imran Khan was shown. Rashid Latif made the observation that it has happened that the coaching staff has made promising bowlers relearn their craft to the point that they lose the very ability that got them selected in the first place. He said that none of these three bowlers (Imran, Wasim, and Waqar), are products of our coaching system.
Shoaib Akhtar was asked to expand upon the theme through his own experience. He said that what Imran Bhai (Imran Khan) used to do was to guide his bowlers on what strategy to go ahead with. He would say whether you need to bowl two length balls and a bouncer, instead of going for a yorker. He would tell his bowlers exactly how to trap the batsman based on his strengths and weaknesses. In this he said, he was greatly helped by his own experience as one of the fastest, and most effective bowlers of his day. Therefore he understood best how to guide the pacers under his wing.
Following up on the theme, he said that it is even possible that if Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis had debuted 3 or so years later than they did, that if they had not benefited from the captaincy of Imran Khan, history may have been written differently. It is possible, he said that the great Ws may not have completely fulfilled their potential the way they did, despite the incredible talent, if they had not had the guiding hand of Imran Khan as captain.
It may be noted that Shoaib Akhtar, who was a unique talent in his own right but had a career marked by off-the-field issues as well as serious injuries, has previously been known to say that he would have had achieved far more if he too had benefited from the captaincy of Imran Khan as a young player.
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