Wasim rested to prolong career

(SHARJAH) Pakistan are planning to limit Wasim Akram’s playing time in a bid to ensure his fitness for the 2003 World Cup.

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Lt General Tauqir Zia has decided that Wasim should be used sparingly if he is to be in condition to contribute at next year’s cricket showpiece in South Africa.

Wasim, 35, is Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in both Test matches (414) and one-day internationals (447).

But he is fighting to prolong his career in the face of a series of niggling injuries.

The most recent problem - hamstring trouble - saw Pakistan’s former skipper miss four successive Tests.

He returned for the one-day series currently taking place against the West Indies in Sharjah but was rested for the second match yesterday.

Zia admits they will have to be careful in choosing Wasim’s future games schedule.

He said in Pakistan newspaper News International: ``I have given a free hand to the medical panel of the Board to look after Wasim’s health since his hamstring injury in Bangladesh.

``And there are reports that he is not fully fit. The suggestion is that he should now be used in bits and pieces in our coming commitments because of his fitness.

``The medical panel feels that if he plays one match, he needs at least another 24 hours rest before playing in another match and I think we have to implement that policy for him.‘’

source http://www.cricket4.com/news/nr_3660.html


Friendship is a precious gift from ALLAH, only lucky ppl have got this gift. And thank God, I am among those ppl

Wasim should just suck it up and retire...rather than having to change the line up everytime he has to play...he cant play more than one game in a row anywayz

Akram should be used sparingly till the world cup and then he should retire after that tournament. His experience and bowling will be invaluable during the world cup. We need him for the world cup.

-=who needs akram when we have agarkar=- j/k

Ehsan is probably right... Imran Khan's experience played the same invaluable role in the 1992 World Cup. Akram has dominated Pakistani cricket for quite some time, and a player like him should retire with some class i.e. retire after helping his side win a world cup. Afterall, he got us in the finals last time too. I wish him best of luck, and may Allah give him the strength to coupe with the diabetic illness that he was facing.