The second phase of the Fast Track Coaching Programme organized by the PCB is currently underway at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. Whilst the first phase was dedicated to fast bowlers and batsmen, the second phase of the programme focuses on all-rounders, spinners and middle order batsmen.

The players attending the training camp are youngsters who have performed well for their respective regions and districts according to former Pakistan offspinner Tauseef Ahmed.

Tauseef who is part of the coaching staff at the ongoing camp reaffirmed that the camp is not only designed for the spinners, but also for upcoming batsmen and all-rounders like Hammad Azam, Hyderabad’s Aqeel Anjum and Abbottabad’s Wajid Ali who are attending the camp.

Speaking of the bowlers at the camp, he said “There are a few prominent names among the attendees, such as Usman Qadir, Zahid Mahmood, Raza Hasan and Zulfiqar Babar who is a consistent performer in the domestic circuit.”

Leg-spinner Khalid Usman from Abbottabad, offspinner Rohail Ali from Lahore and Karachi’s Faisal Tahir are the lesser known names that Tauseef Ahmed mentioned to PakPassion.Net. In addition to this, he also confirmed that well-known leg-spinner Yasir Shah is not attending the camp.

Tauseef who played 34 Tests and 70 ODIs for Pakistan believes that the excess of twenty-over cricket is affecting the general mindset and game-plan of spinners around the world. He stated “The spinners of have forgotten to spin the ball - they have forgotten the true art of off-spin bowling due to the evolution of shorter versions of cricket.”

Having closely monitored their bowling skills, Tauseef has identified a common flaw among the budding spinners attending the camp: they prefer to bowl flat and are also facing difficulties in spinning the ball.

“Their major weakness is that they do not flight the ball and they do not look to turn the ball, which is possibly due to the increasing number of T20 matches that they have been playing.”

However, Tauseef is hopeful of achieving the objective of the training programme which is to polish the skills of inexperienced players and to iron out the flaws.

“We are trying to rectify various technical flaws of these players, but my personal aim is to teach them how to spin the ball.”

“I’m working on each bowler individually with the help of the NCA staff. We conduct one-to-one sessions with the bowlers on a daily basis. During these sessions, we capture videos of their bowling, highlight their weaknesses and offer tips to overcome them” he added.

The purpose of such camps is to provide top-notch coaching and training facilities to upcoming cricketers who have the potential to represent Pakistan at the highest level. On being asked to identify individuals who are likely to break into the national team in the near future, Tauseef initially named Usman Qadir and Zahid Mahmood. However, he did qualify his assessment of these bowlers by stating that “I’m not implying that they will take the world by storm at this point in time. But if they continue to work hard, they do have a chance.”

He further added “Zulfiqar Babar is another one who has been doing well at the domestic level for quite some time. However, we have identified certain flaws in his bowling which we are trying to address in the ongoing camp.”

Zulfiqar Babar is a left arm spinner from Okara who has taken 182 wickets at an average of 21.39 in 41 First Class matches. He also claimed a hat-trick in a domestic Twenty20 match against the much-fancied Karachi Dolphins batting line-up last month.

Another left arm spinner who has impressed Tauseef Ahmed is Raza Hasan who has represented Pakistan at the Under 19 World Cup in 2010. Analysing Hasan’s abilities, Tauseef stated “Raza Hasan is an accurate bowler – he consistently bowls at a very good line and length.”

The nineteen year old Raza Hasan is one of the most talked about young spinners in the country. His intelligent bowling in the final of the Faysal Bank Super 8 T20 Cup 2011 had left a lasting impression on fans and pundits alike.

“Raza Hasan is a bright prospect – he can easily compete with Abdur Rehman for the spinners slot in the national team” Tauseef opined.

Commenting on the rumours that Hasan is capable of bowling a left-armer’s doosra, he stated “It is a variety that he has [in his bowling armoury].”

Tauseef who was the Coach of Hyderabad Hawks during the domestic Twenty20 competition held last month seemed to have been greatly pleased by leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood’s talent. Mahmood who plays for Hyderabad Hawks had also received immense praise from the legendary leg-spinner Abdul Qadir during a domestic tournament last year.

“Zahid Mahmood has impressed one and all. I saw Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal and Mohammad Hafeez chatting with him [in the Academy]. They also invited him to practise with them” Tauseef recalled.

Whilst innumerable new fast bowlers and batsmen have been inducted into the national team over the past few years, the last leg-break bowler to make an international debut for Pakistan is Mansoor Amjad who had featured in an ODI against Sri Lanka more than three years ago before disappearing from the international scene.

With the lack of an international level legspinner, it was indeed heartening to hear that Tauseef feels that future of leg-spin in Pakistan is bright and well represented in the shape of two exciting talents.

“As far as leg-spin bowling is concerned, Usman Qadir and Zahid Mahmood are two leg-spinners who have the potential to succeed.”