The Pakistan Cricket Board on Sunday announced that they will be advertising for the role of a bowling coach to assist head coach Dav Whatmore and fielding coach Julien Fountain, who have both recently signed 2 year contracts.

The vacancy of a bowling coach after Aaqib Javed’s decision to relinquish the post and to opt to work as Head Coach for the Emirates Cricket Board, is expected to attract interest from far afield, but former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif believes that the Pakistan Cricket Board should not look beyond former fast bowler Mohammad Akram.

Speaking with PakPassion.net, Latif was of the view that Mohammad Akram possesses all the requisite skills to work alongside Whatmore and Fountain and also the ability to get the best out of the established and up and coming bowlers in Pakistan.

“There are some very good quality coaches in Pakistan, but the Pakistani cricketers like Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Azhar Mahmood, Saqlaiin Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed and Mohammad Akram have a very valuable advantage and that is the experience of playing for many seasons overseas. They have played under various coaches overseas and have learnt very good man management skills.”

Latif added “I think the PCB should appoint Mohammad Akram as I think he is the right man for the job. I’ve played cricket with and against Akram and also since retiring from international cricket I have played alongside him for the Lashings World XI side. Akram knows the game of cricket very well and he’s a very well respected amongst all age groups of cricketers in Pakistan. He has vast experience having played first class cricket for 14 years in Pakistan and England and he has already done a lot of coaching and will be a good addition to the Pakistani set up.”

Latif also feels that the appointment of Akram would be seen as planning for the long term rather than the short term and stated “If the PCB were to appoint a local coach that would be short term thinking and not really planning for the future. You have to look at developing your players and ensure that you have coaches that will take your players forward, whether it’s the youngsters or the established cricketers. I think Mohammad Akram has the character and the capability of taking forward and improving the bowlers at all levels in Pakistan.”

“You have to look beyond just winning a game of cricket. You have to look at winning and developing your cricketers also. Too often we look at the result and are satisfied, but the best coaches in the world look at the result and take the performance of the players into account and look at areas of improvement and I think Akram will do this. The logical choice for me to work with our bowlers would be Mohammad Akram, he has the personality and the technical skills to do very well in the role.”

Former Pakistan all rounder Azhar Mahmood echoed Rashid Latif’s sentiments about Mohammad Akram being the right man for the role of bowling coach and stated “Mohammad Akram was a very fine bowler himself in international cricket and domestic cricket in England and Pakistan. He knows the art of bowling very well and knows how to bowl in various conditions around the world. He also knows the art of reverse swing and conventional swing and is an experienced campaigner. I think he’s ideally suited for the role of Pakistan’s bowling coach.”

Mahmood who has recently enjoyed successful Twenty20 campaigns in New Zealand and Bangladesh also feels that Akram can assist Whatmore and Fountain with any language issues that they may encounter with any of the Pakistani players and stated “Akram, as far as language is concerned, has the best of both worlds. He can help translate and communicate between the players and the coaching staff which is very important.”

Mahmood also feels that appointing Akram as bowling coach would not just benefit the up and coming bowlers in Pakistan, but would also benefit the more experienced and established bowlers such as Umar Gul.

“Akram will analyse what’s going on and who needs help with various aspects of their bowling. It doesn’t just mean that by appointing a bowling coach he just helps the youngsters. I think Akram could also help established bowlers like Umar Gul with small adjustments in his bowling. These minor adjustments like your front arm is closing too early or opening too late, or your head position is not right, or your bowling stride is not right are the things that you cannot see yourself as a bowler but the coaches can see and help you with. With someone like Mohammad Akram there, it can only benefit all of the Pakistani bowlers. Akram is a sensible and mature man and I’m sure he will do a good job if given the opportunity by the PCB.”

Akram who was an aggressive and whole hearted fast bowler represented Pakistan on 32 occasions between 1995 and 2001 and also played County cricket for Essex, Northamptonshire, Surrey and Sussex. When contacted by PakPassion.net he stated that he was available to work for the Pakistan Cricket Board as the bowling coach and help develop the current and future bowling talent in Pakistan.

"I'm available if the Pakistan Cricket Board wants me as the bowling coach. I'm confident that I can work well with Dav Whatmore and Julien Fountain and get the best out of the international bowlers and the up and coming bowlers in Pakistan. I've learnt a lot playing cricket around the world and would like the opportunity to share my knowledge with the current group of Pakistani bowlers."

Akram further added "I know some of the boys already and that always helps. I've been doing my coaching badges in the UK and am currently working on the aspect of biomechanics at Loughborough University. I would like to give something back to Pakistan cricket. It's an exciting time with new coaches in charge and I'd definitely like to take on the challenge of the role of the bowling coach."