December 19, 2002	Thursday	Shawwal 14, 1423

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CAPE TOWN, Dec 18: Waqar Younis, the Pakistan captain, is likely to lose not only the leadership of his country’s team in the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa next February, but also his place in the side.

Waqar for his lack of form and support within the team on the South African leg of the tour could be replaced by his old foe and new-ball partner Wasim Akram to take over the reins of captaincy for the important event.

The enigmatic Pakistan cricket outfit is already in motion to implement the change. The only hiccup of course is the recommendation and the ban slapped on Wasim by Justice Mohammad Qayyum in his report on match-fixing and bribery stating that Wasim should not be given the captaincy of Pakistan in future.

The recommendation of course will have no feet to stand on if challenged in a court of law because no substantial evidence of Wasim’s involvement in match-fixing has ever been presented nor allegations against him ever proved, and since he has been playing for his country ever since that report, that in itself qualifies him to lead his country as well.

Wasim, a veteran of 104 Tests and 350 one-dayers, is hoping that the restrictions recommended in the report for him not being appointed captain of Pakistan could be lifted as soon as he arrives back in Pakistan after the culmination of the five-match one-day series in South Africa which Pakistan has already lost.

“I hear from various quarters that the PCB is considering a change in captaincy and that I could be asked to lead the side. I shall of course consider it and love to lead Pakistan again. I also know about Justice Qayyum’s recommendations about me. But nothing has ever been proven and I think it is unfair that I can play for Pakistan but can’t lead it,” the former captain said.

“I will however feel sorry for Waqar if he loses his place in the team,” he sympathised.

Wasim, who was picked to play in both one-day and Test for this leg of the tour, however says that there was a misunderstanding about his availability for the Test.

“I had it made very clear that I will play in only one-day matches, the reason being that I shall be going back to Pakistan after the end of the fifth one-day game in Cape Town. There is no confusion about it,” he said.

Wasim is likely to leave for Pakistan along with Shoaib Akhtar who has also declared his unavailability for the two Tests against South Africa citing niggling pain in his right knee. Rashid Latif and Misbah-ul-Haq will accompany them also.

Only last September both the coach of the team Mudassar Nazar and the manager Yawar Saeed were unceremoniously replaced by Richard Pybus and Brig Khawaja Mohammad Nasir.