ISLAMABAD, April 12: Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan led a chorus of glowing tributes to fast bowler Waqar Younis, who announced his retirement from cricket on Monday. "He was a thinking cricketer and at his peak he was the most destructive bowler the game had seen," said Imran, described by Waqar himself as his "godfather and mentor."

"When I spotted him in the late 1980s and brought him into the Pakistan team, he learnt fast and progressed by leaps and bounds. "He was physically very fit and mentally very tough and resilience was his strongest point.

"Pakistan must utilize his talent and acquire his services as a bowling coach because he can give back what he earned from the game," Imran said. Waqar formed a formidable pace combination with Wasim Akram.

"Waqar's retirement has brought the curtain down on one of the game's greatest fast bowlers," said Wasim, who himself retired in May last year. "It was an honour for me to bowl with him. He was a fighter to the core and we enjoyed bowling in tandem."-AFP