If you are an emerging youngster and if you are looking to pursue the beautiful game of cricket as your profession then you need to stop worrying about going to any other country provided if your bowling action needs some modification and overhauling since Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) joined hands and inaugurated the much-awaited and state of the art Biomechanics Lab at the LUMS campus on 23rd May 2016.

PCB’s Chairman, Shahryar Khan, started off the proceeding with ribbon cutting ceremony in the presence of Prof. Dr Sohail H. Naqvi, Vice Chancellor LUMS. There were some other renowned personalities present at the event as well including PCB’s Chief Operating Officer, Subhan Ahmed, Test Cricketer Muhammed Hafeez, former Test Cricketer and bowling coach, Mushtaq Ahmed and Assistant Manager of Pakistan Cricket team, Shahid Aslam.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Shahryar Khan stated:

“This lab would not only help players with doubtful actions but will also help them with performance enhancement. The facility would help raise the standard of cricket in Pakistan by allowing players to work on technical faults and fix suspect bowling actions at an early stage. The next step would be to take accreditation from ICC which would be very beneficial for Pakistan’s cricket players.”

At present, there are 5 ICC accredited labs in the world: in Brisbane, Chennai, Cardiff, Loughborough and Pretoria. A panel of ICC experts will be asked to visit Pakistan to examine the facility to check the overall working and review the flawlessness of the system. Once the biomechanics lab gets ICC accreditation, it will be the 6th ICC accredited lab in the world.

Ever since ICC took stern measures regarding suspect bowling actions, there were plenty of Pakistani and International Cricketers that were suspended including the likes of Saeed Ajmal, Sunil Narine, Muhammd Hafeez, Sachitra Senanayke etc. They had to remodel their bowling action, work on the irregularities and only then they were able to bowl again in International Cricket.

Former T20 skipper and current Test cricketer, Muhammed Hafeez, was also at the receiving end and he is still banned from bowling in International Cricket. He was also present at the event and apparently looked pleased with the latest development. He termed the lab as an important advancement:

“This collaboration would be very beneficial for both parties and at the end of the day it would help Pakistan advance in the game of cricket.”

It would be important to attain the services of foreign experts until the locals can be trained and get their hands on completely at the latest development. Moreover, the technology is only going to help and assist young bowlers with improper bowling actions in rectifying their movements accordingly.

Image credit: radio.gov.pk