Ex-captains express different views

Published February 16, 2004

LAHORE, Feb 15: Former Pakistan captains Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis have different views regarding the forthcoming series between Pakistan and India in March-April.

Talking to reporters at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, Wasim, who had called it a day last year, said that the expectations of the local crowd, friends and relatives could build pressure on Pakistan.

Wasim said that the Indians were also under similar pressure when Pakistan toured in 1999. However, Wasim was not in a position to call any team favourites but added it would be a good series.

Waqar, on the other hand, remarked that both teams would be under pressure. But the pressure would last till the end of the first match only. He agreed that Pakistan also faced the same pressure while touring India in 1999 but that lasted for four or five days.

To a question, Wasim said that he was ready to assist any bowler ofthe world in improving his skills as he did for the Indian pace bowler Irfan Pathan. Wasim, said that he had accepted PCB's offer toassist Pakistani bowlers for the series against India.

Waqar advised the public of both the countries to take the game as a game and should not become intensely emotional over a loss or win of their teams. He said that India had a strong batting line and it depended on the Pakistani bowlers how they performed against them.

Waqar, who was in the run to play the series, while replying toa question said that he still hoped to get a place in the team. Asked since he was not playing the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy,how could he make a comeback, Waqar said that hewas unwell, but would play some of the matches.

Opinion

Editorial

Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...
Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....