KARACHI, March 14: Pakistan cricket great Wasim Akram Thursday said he was itching to play after recovering from injury and would not confine himself to just Test or one-day international matches.

“I have enough fire in the belly to carry on and would not confine (myself) to one form of the game because it would mean that I am not fit and not performing,” the 35-year-old former skipper told reporters.

Akram, the only bowler to take more than 400 wickets in both Tests and one-day cricket, was surprisingly left out of the Asian Test championship final which Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka in Lahore last week.

“It’s a matter of personal satisfaction and I am satisfied that I can still contribute and once I realize I am not contributing I will quit.”

Akram is appearing in Pakistan’s national one-day tournament to prove his fitness ahead of next month’s tri-nation series in Sharjah, which also involves Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

“I am fully fit and am enjoying my cricket and am taking my career series by series, but playing against Australia and (being) a part of Pakistan’s World Cup 2003 campaign is on my mind,” said Akram, who has taken five wickets in three domestic games.

“Australians are right up there and they are the side to beat because they are mentally very tough and are the best side in the world,” he said.

Pakistan will host Australia in October this year.—AFP