Renowned cricket analyst and commentator Fazeer Mohammed has raised concerns about the future of pace bowling in Pakistan following the team’s recent strategy of preparing spin-friendly pitches at home.
Pakistan has historically been a breeding ground for world-class fast bowlers, producing legends like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Imran Khan, but the Trinidadian expert has warned that Pakistan’s current approach could backfire in the long run.
During a recent discussion, Fazeer Mohammed posed a thought-provoking question about the dwindling inspiration for young pacers in Pakistan. Drawing a parallel to Waqar Younis, who hailed from Burewala and became one of the greatest fast bowlers in history, he questioned why a young cricketer from the same region would aspire to become a pacer given the current emphasis on spin bowling.
“If I am a young fast bowler coming from Burewala, like Waqar Younis was, and I watch a Test match on TV where spinners take all the wickets, why would I even want to be a fast bowler? Why would I follow the legacy of Wasim, Waqar, Imran Khan, or Fazal Mahmood?” he remarked.
Fazeer Mohammed criticized the shift towards spin dominance, calling it a “backward step” and a “disregard” of Pakistan’s rich pace-bowling history.
His comments come in the wake of Pakistan’s increasing reliance on spin-friendly tracks at home. Under Aqib Javed’s tenure, Pakistan’s fast-bowling strike force has been sidelined, with a growing emphasis on spinners. The likes of Abrar Ahmed, Noman Ali, and Sajid Khan have been leading the wicket-taking charts in Test matches, often with just one inexperienced fast bowler as their sole pace-bowling support.
While the spin-heavy strategy was initially introduced as a short-term solution, Aqib Javed has hinted that it is here to stay. It is also backed by Shan Masood and vice-captain Saud Shakeel and there are also rumblings that domestic teams will also be introduced to such conditions. As a result, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah have frequently been left out of the playing XI in recent months.
The legacy of Pakistan’s legendary fast bowlers cannot be understated, but if current trends continue unchecked, Fazeer Mohammed’s warnings may soon become a harsh reality for Pakistan cricket.