Wasim criticised for coaching India

With Pakistan's first home series against India for 14 years fast approaching, Wasim Akram has attracted criticism from Pakistan's cricket establishment for offering help and advice to India's bowlers during their tour of Australia.

Wasim has been of particular assistance to Irfan Pathan, the 19-year-old left-armer, who has come on in leaps and bounds during the trip Down Under. Pathan, who toured Pakistan with the Under-19s last November, took over as India's spearhead when Zaheer Khan pulled out through injury. According to one report, he spent over an hour in the nets with Wasim after India's impressive victory over Australia on Sunday.

"He is very earnest," Wasim was reported as saying. "He is a good bloke, with lot of potential. He runs in fast and that's the first sign of a good fast bowler." The report added that Wasim, who is on a commentary assignment, has been India's unofficial bowling coach since last October.

It is a disappointment for Pakistan, who have stated that they intend to take on India's batsmen with a pace barrage of their own when their series gets underway in March. Javed Miandad, the coach, and his captain Inzamam-ul-Haq both believe that Pakistan's new-ball pair of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami can unsettle a batting line-up that has been blazing a trail in Australia all winter.

"We will rely on our pacers, and with Shoaib and Sami we have two matchwinners," said Inzamam. "We are ready for the home series against India, which will be really tough. Our young team played well in New Zealand, and with a superior bowling attack we think we can stop the Indian batting which has been performing very well in Australia."

The tour will consist of three Tests and five one-day internationals. Pakistan won their Test series in New Zealand 1-0, but were trounced 4-1 in the subsequent one-dayers.