Budding fast bowlers must have aggressive mindset to take wickets, says coach Rao Iftikhar

MULTAN, Jul 07 (APP):Former Pakistan medium pacer now serving as fast bowling coach, Rao Iftikhar, said on Tuesday that fast bowlers must have aggressive mindset with consistent focus on taking wickets, adding that youngsters under training at PCB U-19 skill development camp in Multan would turn out to be beneficial for Pakistan cricket.

Exactly 31 youngsters were undergoing intensive training under Pakistan U-19 skills development camp in Multan for their grooming for international level contests. The camp would conclude in the last week of August before the scheduled September 2026 tour of Pakistan U-19 team to England for four One Day Internationals (ODIs) and one four-day match.

The medium pacer, better known for his longer bowling spells with command on out-swingers and reverse swing, said that special emphasis was being given to mental toughness of under-training youngsters and their physical fitness.

Head coach Shahid Anwar said, grooming talented youngsters into international-standard players capable of representing Pakistan at the highest level, remained the topmost objective of the ongoing camp.

Detailed assessment of every player’s performance was being done to identify weaknesses and to further polish their strengths. He emphasized that the focus was on helping young cricketers develop a strong foundation in the fundamentals of the game. Pakistan cricket would benefit from a strong pool of talented cricketers in the future provided the young players continued to work hard with dedication and a willingness to learn, according to an official media brief.

Spin bowling coach Zohaib Khan said the spinners were being trained on different bowling variations with emphasis on accuracy in line and length. He noted that developing a wicket-taking mentality among the spinners remained the top priority.

Fielding coach Mansoor Amjad said, the camp aimed to enhance both the technical skills and mental strength of the players, adding that the first phase remained focused on a comprehensive assessment of the players’ fielding abilities, while the current phase was dedicated to addressing technical shortcomings and improving overall standards.

The Pakistan Under-19 skills development camp would continue until the last week of August as part of the preparations for the team’s upcoming tour of England.