Spin Doctor

Threre was something about Abdul Qadir that drew crowds to him. The bouncing run-up and the animated bowling style — imitated famously ...

Threre was something about Abdul Qadir that drew crowds to him. The bouncing run-up and the animated bowling style — imitated famously by Sunil Gavaskar whenever he was given a bowl — made almost everyone crazy about the Pakistani leggie.

Ten years after retiring from the game, that hasn’t changed. Not just his ability to attract a crowd — even if a clutch of journos taking time off from the razzmatazz of the one-day series — but his mesmerising spin. On a piece of open land next to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium is the Abdul Qadir International Cricket Academy. And running in to bowl was the magician himself.

Forget the fact that those facing him were novices: the way he made the ball dance to his tune was Vintage Qadir. ‘‘Grip aise karo,’’ he told the rookies, perhaps not realising that no matter how they gripped the ball it wouldn’t be the same.

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But Qadir is not one of those cricketers who believes the best went with him. He’s happy with the standard of spin in today’s cricket, noting with pride, ‘‘Warne is doing very well.’’ And then, asked who was better, pays the ultimate compliment. ‘‘Warne is the No 1 leg-spin bowler. He has even taken 500 wickets, whereas I only reached 250 wickets. Warne is way ahead.’’

He speaks of how Warne has picked up 20 wickets in his first two Tests after a year-long lay-off from cricket. And he’s been involved in a keen tussle with Mutthiah Muralitharan to break Courtney Walsh’s record of 519 wickets.

It’s a contest Qadir has been watching keenly. ‘‘It is good for the game. Murali is the best off-spinner in the world and he is good in his field and Warne in leg-spin.’’

Closer home, he’s relishing the Tests that begin on Sunday. And the prospect of watching Anil Kumble play. ‘‘He is a good listener and I have spent some time talking to him. I spoke to him in the mid-90s and it helped him for sometime.’’

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Will Kumble be hampered by his injury? ‘‘No, I don’t think so. In fact injuries helps bowlers relax and return refreshed from the break. I am sure Kumble will feel the same way. I have no doubts he will adjust fast.’’

Though Qadir says he enjoys talking about cricket ‘‘and leg-spin in particular’’, what worries him is the falling standard of spin in the subcontinent and for this he holds the administrators responsible. ‘‘They need to look at this fast. If spin academies is the way then so be it.’’

A bit of self-promotion here? Perhaps, though in a good cause. ‘‘This (Academy) was just an idea that came to me some eight months ago. I spoke to the PCB and they agreed to support me in my venture.’’

Qadir’s academy is located next to the PCB’s official Academy, and those enrolled in the first can use the facilities in the second. Even a few of the underprivileged kids are taken care of by Qadir and given free coaching.

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Why is this an International Academy? ‘‘Because I am for cricket, anyone can come to meet me. Graham Gooch sent a boy to me from Essex for sometime.’’

On his part though Qadir has made sure international cricket will have something to look forward to in his third son Salman. The young batsman who also bowls handy-off spin is best placed than his elder brothers to make the National team. Only recently Salman made his presence felt in the under-19 World Cup.