Pakistan working out rotation policy for pacers

Waqar Younis admitted that with a lot of international cricket lined up for Pakistan from 2021 to 2023 it has become essential to plan out a workload management system for the pace bowlers.

Pakistan bowling coach Waqar Younis has said the national team management is working out a rotation policy for the pace bowlers to properly manage their workload with growing international and league commitments.

Waqar, a former captain and fast bowler, admitted that with a lot of international cricket lined up for Pakistan from 2021 to 2023 it has become essential to plan out a workload management system for the pace bowlers.

"Our medical panel, our trainers and myself, we now keep close eye on the workload and fitness of all the pace bowlers. Very soon with the Pakistan Super League and a lot of international cricket to follow after the competition, we will decide when to rest which player," he said.

Waqar said, thankfully, Pakistan, at present, has a good bunch of pace bowlers to choose from for all three formats.

"We are particularly keeping a close eye on Shaheen Shah Afridi and he may be rested for some matches of the T20 series against South Africa as he is playing non-stop in all formats," he added.

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Waqar said a group of fast bowlers, including young ones in domestic cricket, would also be sent for training and work to the high performance centre in Lahore to keep them ready for national duty.

He supported the workload management system of some other teams particularly England and New Zealand.

"Not only fast bowlers but workload management is now essential for all players in these COVID-19 times when players have to move from one biosecure bubble to another constantly and also spend time in quarantine."

The Pakistan coach also said the medical panel and trainers would be involved when the team management has to make a call regarding how many matches a player will play over a period of time and how he will be utilised.

Pakistan rested pacer Hasan Ali for the first T20 international against South Africa on Thursday after he returned a 10-wicket haul in the second Test against the visitor earlier this week.

Pakistan also sidelined young fast bowler Naseem Shah for the South Africa series after he was a regular member of the Test team in England and New Zealand this year and also at home against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Waqar also felt that most fast bowlers, who didn’t carry that much experience, struggled while bowling away from home as it was natural for bowlers to feel more comfortable while bowling on home pitches and conditions.

"Pacers tend to perform better at home. This is not just the case with our bowlers but bowlers around the world and yes they are a few exceptions - particularly the ones with loads of international experience behind them."