In the recent PSL 2023 a young quick bowler Ihsanullah inspired the cricket experts of the world with his exceptional pace and length. He has also made T20 debut against Afghanistan. It is a good sign for Pakistan Cricket but Pakistani Management needs to look-after these kind of talent very carefully. Ihsanullah played his first PSL match in 2022 but he faced fitness issues in that match and ruled out from the entire PSL. It shows that the speedstars with such pace need some extra care to serve in a better manner.
Pakistan has a reputation for producing some of the fastest and most lethal fast bowlers in the world. From Fazal Mahmood to Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar and more recently Shaheen Shah Afridi. Pakistan has a legacy of producing exceptional fast bowlers. It is a blessing on Pakistani soil that not only in past but at present Pakistan has some genuine fast bowlers in-line.
The only other Cricket team which is blessed with fast bowlers is Australia which produced some quality faster bowlers like Shaun Tait, Brett Lee and Start. They have bowled deliveries @ 160 km/hr but above them all Pakistani fast bowler Shoiab Akhtar was the quickest one he bowled the fastest delivery of the cricket world @ 160.8 km/hr, which is still and unbreakable record. There were some other faster bowlers who were bowling at higher speed like Muhammad Zahid and Muhammad Sami, they could not become super stars but it shows that how talented Pakistani fast bowlers are. Currently, Shaheen Afrid, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah are leading fast bowlers of Pakistan whereas Muhammad Husnain, Shah Nawaz Dahani, Muhammad Wasim Jr., Hassan Ali are also ready to grab opportunities. These young bowlers are faster from many others performing in the world for their teams.
However, all these fast bowlers came at higher level at their own. No doubt PSL is a good platform and PSL Franchises are providing them a proper system to grow for upper level. But development of fast bowlers in Pakistan requires a significant amount of effort, investment and attention.
Shah Afridi struggled with his fitness in recent time, he was playing so continuously in all formats of the game. Fitness is a key to success for a fast bowler. Therefore, Modern training methods can play a significant role in the development of fast bowlers. Technology and sports science have made it possible to monitor and analyze every aspect of a bowler’s performance. Pakistan is now working on the latest technology National Cricket Academy and Lahore Qalandar’s Academy is providing young fast bowlers such facility to improve their skills and fitness. Such initiatives needs to be taken in every city of Pakistan for the betterment of fitness level of young bowlers.
In addition to the recommendations mentioned above, Pakistani cricket authorities should establish specialized academies for the development of fast bowlers and taking care of their fitness levels. There should be specialized coaching staff who can give proper training & tips to these bowlers.
Fast bowlers are jewelry of Pakistan Cricket and without any doubt they are the super stars in the world. Therefore, raw talent should be identified and proper mechanism can bring many more super stars in the Pakistan Cricket. Because many players are still available in raw form and waiting for opportunities.
The writer is a student of BS Journalism, semester 8 at School of Communication Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore. He can be reached [email protected]