Karachi: The newly appointment head of the High Performance Centre (HPC) at National Stadium in Karachi, Wasim Bari is upbeat that his age would not be a hindrance to carrying out responsibilities at the HPC.
“Age is just a matter of mind, if you think mentally that you are old, you are old and if you think mentally that you are fit, you fit”, Bari told this correspondent.
“It (age) has an advantage as well. If a person is fit and educated, has the background and the capacity to communicate then I think it will be an advantage to young cricketers”, Bari, born on March 23, 1948, added.
Bari, a 81-Test veteran, has held different positions at the Pakistan Cricket Board including COO, chief selector as well as participated in various disciplinary/judicial panels.
Spelling out his vision as the in-charge of the Karachi’s HPC, Bari said the idea is to facilitate the bidding players of the southern region and Pakistan to give them the basic knowhow of the game. “These youngsters will also be given lectures on values and ICC codes so that they would be well prepared before entering international cricket. The idea is not the administration but facilitation”, Bari said.
“We have 18 practice wickets and 42 rooms along with a gymnasium and a swimming pool at the HPC. All in all we are providing state of the art facilities under one roof”, Bari stressed
Wasim Bari was of the opinion that regions and districts would be taken aboard to scout young players from the southern region (Sindh & Balochistan)
“Not easy for people of the southern region to travel to Lahore therefore the idea is to cater to them in Karachi. I think young cricketers will take advantage of it”, Bari said.
Wasim Bari took charge as head of the High Performance Centre at National Stadium in Karachi earlier this month.
Former Pakistan captain and wicket-keeper is optimistic that the HPC would play an important role in the development of the emerging cricketers of the southern region of the country.