JOHANNESBURG, Feb 6: Veteran Pakistani opener Saeed Anwar, laid low by a Shoaib Akhtar missile, said on Thursday he was desperate to play in his team’s World Cup opener against defending champions Australia.

The 34-year-old, making a comeback in the national team after a five month absence, had his left elbow bruised by a thunderbolt from pace bowler Shoaib during Pakistan’s nets earlier this week.

The injury sent shock waves through the Pakistani camp, but Saeed said he was working hard to be fit for Tuesday’s key match against the Australians at the Wanderers here.

“I am desperate to play in this important match, because it holds the key to our future in the tournament,” Saeed told AFP.

“I am icing the elbow for two days and went to see an ortheopadic surgeon and in a few days I should know where I stand.”

Saeed sat out Pakistan’s last warm-up match against a provincial team in Benoni on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Pakistani all-rounder Wasim Akram took a stroll down memory lane on Thursday as his country’s World Cup squad attended a development clinic for young children.

“It was a fantastic experience and some of the kids asked me about my childhood and how I broke into cricket,” Wasim said.

“It took me back to my childhood for a moment.”

The entire Pakistan squad visited the a school on the outskirts of Johannesburg for a 90-minute cricket session with children.

“Some of the kids were amazing and we had a great time,” said Wasim, who is taking part in his fifth World Cup.—AFP