Pakistan coach Pybus keen to defer retirements of Wasim, Waqar
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Pakistan coach Richard Pybus wants to persuade Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram, the country’s most successful bowlers in Test and one-day cricket, to delay their retirement plans when the World Cup ends in March.
Inzamam-ul Haq and opener Saeed Anwar, the fourth and sixth-highest scorers in one-day internationals, have also been mulling their futures. Inzamam is keen to play on, according to Pybus, while the others will review their situations after the Feb. 9-March 23 tournament. Pybus doesn’t want them to quit together.
“I’ve seen the damage that can do to a team and I’ll be talking to them about that at the World Cup,” Pybus said in an interview.
Australia’s Greg Chappell, Rodney Marsh and Dennis Lillee - three of the world’s leading players - retired after the same match in 1984. Australia won just three of their next 32 Tests.
Wasim, 36, with 490 one-day victims, and the 31-year-old Waqar, the only other bowler to claim 400 one-day wickets, made their international debuts in 1984 and 1989 respectively. They have played 606 one-day matches put together. Saeed has made 252 one-day appearances.
“I still think they have a lot to offer Pakistan cricket,” Pybus said. “Wasim was in fantastic form in South Africa before he bruised his thumb. Waqar was the second-highest wicket-taker in one-day internationals last year. Saeed, also, is a class act.”
Pakistan, runner-up in the 1999 World Cup, plays its first match in South Africa against champion Australia on Feb. 11.
