DUBAI, Oct 12: Legendary Imran Khan has compared Indian left-arm medium pacer Irfan Pathan to Pakistan's world renowned paceman Wasim Akram, saying the 19-year-old has all the qualities that retired pace spearhead had in his youth.

"I see all the qualities that Wasim had as a youngster in Pathan. In fact, I find that he (Pathan), at his age, has more patience than m had. He has a bright future ahead of him," Imran said at a luncheon for Indian and Pakistan film stars and cricketers here.

"I think Pathan could go on to become another Wasim," Imran stated. During India-Australia series in Australia, Pathan had approached Wasim, who he idolises, for a few tips and the paceman readily obliged only to face severe criticism back home in Pakistan.

Imran also complimented India's 'Little Master' Sunil Gavaskar at the luncheon speech. "Gavaskar was the only one who had predicted that Pakistan would win 1992 World Cup and when we did it, he (Gavaskar) became a hero with the Pakistanis," he remarked. -Agencies