The ongoing training camp, organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at the Lahore National Cricket Academy (NCA), for emerging players is proving to be a huge success according to former Pakistan pace bowler Sarfraz Nawaz.

Nawaz who was a fine exponent of reverse swing and took 177 wickets in 55 tests with a career best of nine for 86. Speaking to PakPassion.net Nawaz feels that in the space of one week he has identified a number of areas of improvement for the bowlers who have been attending the camp.

"When I first saw the fast bowlers in action last week, there were a number of areas of fast bowling that they were not aware of. This is despite some of them being test cricketers, some of them playing first class cricket and others still looking to make a name for themselves in cricket."

Nawaz added that he has been working on several main areas of weakness with the fast-bowlers. Foremost amongst these is the grip of the ball, run up issues as well as problems with the front leg landing upon delivery.

"One of the problems that were identified was how some of the boys were gripping the ball. Another area of weakness for some of the bowlers was their run up, whilst others had issues that were identified with their jump shortly before they release the ball. Another problem that was common was the landing leg when bowling the ball and also some of the boys needed some advice on using the crease a lot better than they were."

"I've worked on all the above issues with the boys and in addition to the aforementioned, I have been advising them to hit the deck harder with the ball and therefore improving their chances of extracting seam movement and conventional swing. A lot of these bowlers prefer to bowl with the old ball and look for reverse swing, but I have also focussed on improving their control of the new ball which is crucial."

Sarfraz further added that "the two week camp at the NCA in Lahore had been split into two main areas. Week one was focussing on the red ball, whereas week two that started today will focus on the white ball to ensure that the bowlers are getting advice and coaching to better prepare them for all formats of the game and especially so, given the rule change in one day cricket which will no doubt reduce the chance of reverse swing in the 50 over format."

Nawaz also added that "the bowlers that he was assigned to work with also needed guidance on how to read the opposition batsmen. Rather than just concentrating on your own bowling, running up and bowling the ball, think about the opposition batsmen much more than they are currently doing and bowling according to their field or bowling one side of the wicket."

Fitness has also been a key area at the camp with some modern day methods being mixed in with some "old fashioned" ideas, according to Nawaz.

"Fitness is a key ingredient for any fast bowler in my opinion. Long distance running, sprints, shuttle runs, as well as the non-conventional method of running up and down the stadium stairs to improve the condition of the boys calf muscles, groin muscles and hamstring. These methods may not be the most modern but I can tell you that they are effective and it's good that a very experienced individual like Doctor Riaz is also at the camp."

The players requested to attend the camp are a mixture of current test players, upcoming youngsters and individuals who are on the fringe of international selection and when asked which of the fast bowlers had particularly impressed him Nawaz stated "It's difficult to identify individuals as all the boys have really been putting in a lot of effort. Nobody has taken it easy and there is a lot of competition at the camp and friendly rivalry. However, Mohammad Talha has impressed me, as have Sohail Khan, Tanvir Ahmed and Sohail Tanvir who is an improving bowler. In addition Aizaz Cheema who is deceptively quick has impressed me. All of these boys have a lot of potential."

When asked to scrutinize the areas of improvement for the bowlers that he had been impressed by, Nawaz stated "Talha's problem is to do with his follow through. There is a lack of coordination with his body in the follow through. He was stopping abruptly in his follow through. What I've also said to him is to put all his weight down on his front foot, release the ball when his front leg his straight, rather than bent as he is doing now. He has not been getting the impetus upon delivery as his front knee was bent when he released the ball. Since we've spoken to him, he is hitting the deck a lot harder and looks a lot better than he was."

"Sohail Khan's main problem is that he hasn't been gripping the ball very well. When he was releasing the ball, the way he was holding the ball was not ideal. We've spoken with him and already we can see improvements when he releases the ball."

Whilst the bowlers have benefitted from the camp, Nawaz also feels that the batsmen at the camp have benefitted from the much improved bowlers that they are now facing.

"The batsmen are now facing bowlers in practice matches and in the nets that are much improved despite the camp having only been operational for a week. Some of the bowlers could be described as work in progress when they arrived, but in the space of one week they have become better all-round bowlers."

62 year old Nawaz has been a harsh critic of the PCB regime under Ijaz Butt, but he was full of praise for the Chairman for this initiative.

"This camp is a good idea by Ijaz Butt. It’s a step in the right direction by the Chairman and having guys like Abdul Qadir also working with the spinners is a fantastic idea. These camps are crucial in the development of young cricketers in Pakistan and for the benefit and future of Pakistani cricket. I was supposed to be in England, but was asked by the PCB to oversee the bowlers, so postponed my trip to England. The Board asked me for my terms and conditions to oversee the bowlers, my response was simply “I don't have any terms and conditions, you start the camp and I will work with the boys."