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Akram denies getting coaching offer

By M. Chhaya in Kolkata
November 20, 2003 16:32 IST

Former Pakistan captain and fast bowler Wasim Akram said he has no offer from "anywhere" to become a bowling coach.

"I too read in newspapers that I have been offered the job [of India's bowling coach], but the fact of the matter is I've no such offer from anywhere," Akram told rediff.com on Wednesday night.

The legendary Sultan of swing bowling, however, said he is all too willing to take up coaching assignments if offered.

"I have no offer from India, but I've 20 years of experience and am all too willing to share it with anyone who wants to," Akram, who retired from international cricket in May, said.

The Indian Express had reported Wednesday that Akram was to become India's bowling coach at the behest of Indian captain Sourav Ganguly.

The daily quoted Ganguly as saying, "To me, he is greatest fast bowler of the modern era. And I feel that since he is left-handed, [Indian bowlers] Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Irfan Patham will benefit from his tips. Akram has always been helpful to junior cricketers. So we decided to propose his name to the board."

Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya also ruled out the possibility of hiring Akram's services. "I don't know what has prompted people to make such speculation. We have not even thought about it," he said.

The rumour that Akram would become India's bowling coach has even set in motion legal proceedings with a petition being filed in a Pakistan court asking it to stop the left-hander from taking up the job.

Akram's wife has said in Pakistan that her husband has told her that he would coach Pakistani bowlers first if he had to take to coaching at all.

M. Chhaya in Kolkata

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