July 11, 2002	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1423

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LAHORE, July 10: Pakistan captain Waqar Younis wants Shoaib Akhtar to participate in world’s fastest bowlers competition in India though the cricket board has declined permission to the local boy to lock horns with Australian Brett Lee.

Waqar, who returned from Australia, said the board might have its own point of view on the subject. But he clearly said he wanted Shoaib to participate in the competition.

“It will settle the issue of who is the fastest once and for all,” Waqar said.

PCB chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia last month held Shoaib back and said he wanted his pacer to concentrate on cricket ahead.

Shoaib broke the 100-mile barrier against New Zealand at Lahore in the third one-day international. But the International Cricket Council (ICC) says the dubious record remains unofficial.

Despite ICC refusing to officially accept Shoaib’s record, the Rawalpindi Express remains the world’s fastest bowler.

Commenting on his team’s success in Australia last month, Waqar said he was delighted with the performance on Wasim Akram, Shoaib, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana. But at the same time he expressed his disappointment over the fitness level of Saeed Anwar.

Nevertheless, the skipper was quick to defend the bearded Saeed saying the left-hander was returning to international cricket after a long lay-off. “It is not very easy to immediately make a mark when you are playing against a quality team like Australia.”

Waqar said the first defeat in Melbourne was not a surprise for him, arguing that his team had no experience of playing indoors.

But the paceman said when his boys adjusted to the conditions, they exhibited their true brilliance which was too hot for Australia to handle.