Waqar wants revenge

The relationship between Waqar Younis and England goes back a long way. It was in England that Pakistan's latest cricket captain earned the nickname 'Wrecker'; it was here, too, that he along with fellow fast bowler Wasim Akram was conferred the title 'cheat' when the prodigious reverse swing the two bowlers obtained had the England batsmen groping.

It is, of course, a different matter that today, the selfsame England media boasts of the reverse swing obtained by its own bowlers.

Waqar Younis now wants revenge -- not so much for past, and personal, humiliations, as for England's win against Pakistan, in Pakistan, last year.

The Pak skipper said that he was satisfied with the blend of youth and experience in the 16-member squad under his command. Granting that it was always tough for a visiting team to go into a two-Test series, Waqar said that as far as he was concerned, it only meant that his team would need to stay focussed right from the beginning, given that it was such a short series.

Last year, England under Nasser Hussain had humbled Pakistan 1-0 at home.

Waqar pointed out that this could be his last tour of England, and he wished to make it personally memorable by winning both the Tests and the ODIs. Pakistan will take part in a triangular ODI tournament, with Australia forming the third angle.

Referring to the controversy swirling around the inclusion of Wasim Akram in the squad, the Pakistan captain said that he was comfortable with all 16 members of the side, but added that no free tickets would be given out. "Every member of the team, including Wasim, will have to fight for a place in the side," Waqar warned.

It needs mentioning that Waqar had originally objected to Wasim's inclusion in the side, with the PCB resolving the issue by naming the former Pakistan captain as the 17-th member of the touring party.

Waqar said that it would be good for the team to work with the newly appointed bowling coach, Daryl Foster, but rued the fact that the team did not as yet have a head coach. "We need a coach, he is the one who has to help us make game plans, a coach is a must," Waqar said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board, however, is yet to appoint a head coach to replace Javed Miandad, who was dumped last month after a showdown with some senior players.

Fast bowler Shoaib Akthar, meanwhile, said that he had no issues with Umpires Darrell Hair and Peter Willey being nominated to stand in the first Test, which begins at Lord's on May 17.

Both umpires have in the past reported Akthar for chucking.

"I respect their judgements, and have no problems with their standing in the Test, but I am convinced my action is alright," Akthar, who was recently cleared by a panel of experts, said.

The Pakistan team will leave for England on May 2.