A 145;reverse146; in store for Delhi pacers

He was a great exponent of the reverse swing. With innings-best figures of 9/86 and a total of 177 wickets from 55 Tests...

He was a great exponent of the reverse swing. With innings-best figures of 9/86 and a total of 177 wickets from 55 Tests, he was one of the most feared fast-bowlers of his time.

From Children8217;s Day, November 14, the legendary Pakistan cricketer Sarfraz Nawaz will help the Delhi Ranji team as a bowling consultant. The Delhi 038; District Cricket Association DDCA has roped in Sarfraz8217;s services to help the team8217;s fast bowlers with a one-week camp at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

Sarfraz becomes the second Pakistan cricketer to associate with Indian cricket 8212; Intikhab Alam had coached the Punjab team 8212; and the appointment comes at a time when foreign cricketers have been signed up as professionals by state associations.

Delhi under-13s, under-19s, and under-22s have shown strong performances and have emerged zonal champions this season. But the Delhi senior team needs to learn from their experience of 2005-06: they failed to bowl out the opposition twice except on one occasion in the entire season. And they narrowly avoided relegation.

8220;Our juniors8217; good work needs to be carried forward by our seniors too. We have a good battery of fast bowlers at both levels, so Sarfraz8217; expertise will be of great help,8221; said DDCA sports secretary Sunil Dev. 8220;The association is keen on calling Sarfraz for his services on short-term basis from time to time.8221;

He said his decision was conceptualised through discussion with DDCA president Arun Jaitley and coach Chetan Chauhan. Speaking to The Indian Express from Lahore, Sarfraz confirmed the assignment. 8220;I will concentrate on improving bowlers by working on their run-up, line and length, and of course by teaching them the nuances of reverse swing,8221; he said.

The Delhi camp by 57-year-old Sarfraz comes at a time when Ashish Nehra is gearing up for a comeback into the Indian team. 8220;I have come to know that the Delhi team has got three fast bowlers Nehra, Amit Bhandari and Ishant Sharma at the India level and a few other promising ones. It will be one great week and I have already given a brief to the association on my camp,8221; he added.

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For the camp, Sarfraz has ordered three wickets prepared 8212; a green top, a hard bouncy wicket without grass, and a placid batting wicket.

OTHER FOREIGN HANDS

8226; Aussie pacer Dennis Lillee, with the MRF Pace Foundation

8226; Bob Simpson as foreign coaching consultant of the Indian team

8226; John Wright was India coach

8226; Bruce Reid helped India out with the bowling on the 2004 series Down Under

8226; Intikhab Alam has coached the Punjab team for two years

8226; Greg Chappell as Team India coach