HOUSTON,USA, July 23: Cricket super star and former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has applied for H-2 Visa to work as coach after his retirement in 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

Wasim in consultation with local organizers has applied for visa with US Immigration & Naturalisation Services (INS) to work as professional with a local company, sources told APP Monday.

Wasim’s family is currently based in Lahore and Manchester and will have to move to Houston if he is able to secure working visa to serve as coach and coordinator for cricketing purposes.

Cricket rganizers will go for another double wicket contest next year here despite suffering losses, a spokesman of organizing committee told APP Monday.

“We are planning to bring more popular players to attract the local public” he said adding that they will also contact players from Australia, England and New Zealand to feature in the competition.

He hoped that more players will be coming to USA because several players will be free after World Cup-2003 in South Africa.

Meanwhile, the USA Cricket Association and Canadian Cricket Association have reconfirmed the plan to stage a 2/3 day Canada against USA cricket match on turf wickets in the Metro Toronto area on Sept 7-8, 2002.

Manitoba joins Alberta and BC in starting to play two day cricket. Their first game was this past weekend.

Canada also will play a three-day game against the visiting West Indies ‘A’ team in August in Metro Toronto.

International Regional Under-15 cricket tournament will be held in Orlando (Florida) next week, a USA Cricket Association (USACA) officials said Monday.

USA will be among the five countries which include Argentina, Canada, Brazil and Bermuda to take part in the tournament.

This event at this age group will be a step forward towards promotion and development of sport in those countries. —Agencies