KARACHI, March 21: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram confirmed Thursday he would not be joining Glamorgan for the 2002 season.

“I was in talks with them for a contract this season. But I wanted a reduced programme due to my Pakistan commitments this year,” Wasim said.

Australian paceman Mike Kasprowicz is expected to be signed instead by the county in the near future for upcoming English county championship season.

Glamorgan, who recruited Australian Jimmy Maher as their overseas player in 2001, had shown interest in signing Wasim, 35, who played for Lancashire from 1988-1998 with great success.

“I was keen to play some county cricket this season. But, given Pakistan’s heavy schedule, it was a taxing proposition. So I have decided to just concentrate on matches for Pakistan,” he said.

Wasim, Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in Tests and One-day Internationals, has been invited to a national training camp in Lahore from Friday after being dropped for the Asian Test Championship final against Sri Lanka earlier this month.—Reuters