Pakistani great bowler and the inventor of reverse swing Sarfraz Nawaz says that Irfan Pathan and S Sreesanth are finished as world class bowlers and blames a combination of modern coaching methods and muddled thinking by the Indian team management for that.
The fast bowler of yesteryears, here on a short coaching assignment on the invitation of Delhi and District Cricket Association, surprised one and all with his forthright comments on problems faced by India with regard to fast bowling and his knowledge on the subject.
The 57-year-old said that India coach Greg Chappell had invited him to give tips to the Indian pacers, when they visited Pakistan earlier this year, and although he exactly pointed out the wrongs in their techniques and told them how they could rectified, he did not see any improvement in their bowling thereafter.
"In the case of Sreesanth, when I saw him in Pakistan he was a match-winning bowler. But from what I saw him in the last match in the Champions Trophy, he is finished," Sarfraz, who played in 55 Tests and took 177 wickets, said at a press conference in Delhi on Wednesday.
"His line and length are gone. Whatever the minute things I told them (in Pakistan), I saw no big difference when I saw them again."
{{/usCountry}}"His line and length are gone. Whatever the minute things I told them (in Pakistan), I saw no big difference when I saw them again."
{{/usCountry}}In the case of Pathan, Sarfraz said, Chappell and captain Rahul Dravid should be more prudent in entrusting responsibilities on the youngster.