Dubai: Pakistan has put up a spectacular batting performance in their second innings overcoming their blemish in the first innings of the third Test match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Behind their success is a silent hard worker and former Test star Ijaz Ahmed.
Ahmed is the team’s batting coach who makes sure that all mistakes of his batsmen are minutely rectified. During the practice sessions, he uses an instrument called Dog Ball Thrower.
Fixing the ball to the tip of the thrower, he whips it towards the batsman standing half way to the pitch. “It is very good for the batsmen to try out different strokes and master them. If the ball is kept with the seam pointing towards slips it moves very well off the pitch. It helps the batsmen master playing away going deliveries,” remarked Ahmed to Gulf News.
Ahmed was seen using this instrument to bounce the ball at Younus Khan and making him play the pull shot. “It is very effective as the ball comes really fast like coming off the arm of a fast bowler,” added Ahmed, who was known for his ability to play pacers and is known as Pakistan’s finest No.3 batsman.
Khan played nearly 25 pull shots to the bouncing balls off this instrument. “This instrument is very helpful for a coach as he does not have to use his arm-strength to throw the ball. One can throw any number of balls at the batsmen with minimum of effort,” said Ahmed, who plays the role of a fielding coach too.
