[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ehsan: *
Umair you need to look at Imran's career. He was a below average bowler when he toured England with Pakistan in 1971, his debut year. He then joined Worcester and later played for Sussex and it is from these counties that this world beater bowler emerged. County cricket played a big role in improving his game and the same goes for the two W's.
[/QUOTE]
Like someone mentioned above, you have to look at the amount of international cricket being played in those days and the amount of cricket that is being played today. I don't have a problem if Pakistani team doesn't play cricket for the next 5 or 6 months then I don't see any problems with Sami going there for that time, but if you look at Pakistan's schedule from August onwards, you will see that Sami will be pretty busy, since Waqar and Wasim are no longer playing, Sami will be needed in every series or tournament, and this is the time for him to rest his body, so he can come strong later on.
Getting back to my point, I agree the fact that county might have helped Imran, but the way playing schedule is done nowdays, its very hard for international players to play in both divisions of the game.