Waqar draws veil over tour that never was

Tony Lawrence

Waqar Younis this month re-emerged as one of the world's great bowlers. Sadly, no one noticed.

That, at least, is how it must seem to the Pakistan captain.

At the start of June, he took five wickets in the second and final Test against England at Old Trafford, making one of the key breakthroughs on the last day by removing Graham Thorpe with a venomous new-ball spell before claiming the wicket which drew the series.

All the talk afterwards, however, was of how the umpires failed to spot a string of no-balls on the final afternoon, three of them from off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq. The no-balls ultimately cost England four wickets.

During the triangular series which followed, Waqar uprooted the first seven England batsman to claim the second-best one-day figures of all time at Headingley, seven for 36.

But the headlines focused on England conceding the match after a premature pitch invasion by Pakistan fans.

A haul of six for 59 followed against Australia at Trent Bridge, a background to fresh controversy as Steve Waugh marched his side off after a firecracker landed near Brett Lee.

MAN OF THE SERIES

Then on Saturday, Waqar was named man of the triangular series with 17 wickets at 12.88 apiece. He barely got a mention, Australia winning the tournament and Michael Bevan being hit in the face by a beer can flung by a spectator.

Waqar, on what he expects to be his last tour of England, must have wondered why he bothered.

His team coach, however, does not.

"He has re-emerged as a fast bowling force," says Richard Pybus. "The raw pace has gone but the mastery of working a batsman over, of working the angles, the ability to swing the ball both ways at pace has not."

If Waqar's rebirth came against the odds -- sidelined in 1995 with recurring back problems, he has struggled to earn a regular place in the side in recent seasons -- his appointment as captain to replace Moin Khan was just as surprising, considering his lack of experience.

Pre-tour reports from Pakistan suggested he had inherited a poisoned chalice, with former friend-turned-foe Wasim Akram merely one member of a squad riven by deep personal enmities.

The team, however, beaten at home by England at the end of last year, held together to draw the Test series with England after being caught cold at Lord's. They then reached the triangular final.

BIG SUCCESS

Pakistan's heavy defeat to Australia on Saturday took some gloss off a tour which, however, will surely be seen in retrospect as a big success.

"In Waqar as captain we have unearthed a real gem," Pybus said.

"He has all the characteristics required -- he leads by example, he is not afraid of tough decisions, he's a good reader of the game and he's learnt fast.

"He has also helped to ensure we have had a harmonious dressing room and that is important."

How long Waqar will last -- officially he is 29, but lax birth registration practices in Pakistan may mean he is several years older -- remains to be seen.

"I haven't got a clue," he says. "People have been asking me this question over the last six years but God alone knows.

"It all depends on how long my body can hold itself together. But, when I do eventually leave the game, I want to do so with grace."

He may feel he has not been treated with much of that in recent weeks.

But Waqar, a big favourite when he played for English county Surrey, is one of those few sportsmen who will leave an indelible impression on their sports.

Some players are remembered by statistics -- Courtney Walsh will go down in history as the 519-wicket man -- but those fortunate enough to see Waqar in action will remember him in picture form. They will never forget his trademark delivery, the late in-swinging yorker which generally either shattered the stumps or the batsman's toe bones.

With Wasim, Waqar introduced to the sport reverse swing with the old ball, taking 22 wickets on the victorious 1992 tour of England, followed by 16 four years later.

"There are plenty of series which stick out in the mind, like the 1992 and 1996 Test series here in England," he agrees.

2001, however, is unlikely to join that list.

Mail Cricket Editor