Pakistan fast bowling great Wasim Akram confirmed on Tuesday that he would
retire after the ICC World Cup in South Africa next year
Charlie Austin10-Sep-2002Pakistan fast bowling great Wasim Akram confirmed on Tuesday that he would
retire after the ICC World Cup in South Africa next year.Speaking at a press conference in Colombo before Pakistan’s first game in
the ICC Champions Trophy against Sri Lanka on Thursday, the 36-year-old
claimed the time had come to hang up his boots."The World cup will be my last tournament," he said. "There is a right time
for everything and I think that will be the right time to go."Looking back on a career that has spanned 17 years, including 104 Tests and
a staggering 342 ODIs, touching both glory and controversy, Akram claims to
be leaving with no regrets." I have had ups and downs, my career has been a roller coaster ride," he
admitted. "But it has all been worth it and I’ve had a ball."Providing he is selected, he hopes to bow out with a bang – a Pakistan
victory in what would be his fifth World Cup."It would be a dream come true if we could win the World Cup. I couldn’t ask
for more than that, it would be a perfect ending," he said.Afterwards, he is unsure what life has in store."I’ve no idea what I am going to do afterwards," he said. "I am not the kind
of guy that plans things. I will take six months off sleeping, watching
cricket and spending time with my family.""I’m not the coaching sort – you have to be very organised and always be
planning ahead – but I obviously I want to help cricket, promoting the game
around the world."Akram has taken 414 Test wickets at 23.62 and 478 ODI wickets at 23.78 – the
only player in the world to pass 400 in both forms of the game.Meanwhile, left-handed opener Saeed Anwar, scorer of 8525 runs at 38.75 in
ODIs, hinted that he is also on the verge of bidding farewell.The religious 34-year-old is struggling for his place in the side and is
anxious to leave on a high note."This ICC trophy could be the turning point of my life," he said, somewhat
dramatically. "I will see how it goes and then decide on my future."He explained: "I have played cricket with dignity and respect, always
performing at the highest level. I still have the zest for cricket but do
not want to hang around if I am not performing."I wanted to play another two years but I think it is the right time to go,"
he said.Unlike Akram, he expects to make a clear break with the game: "I won’t hang
around the game, not as a commentator, not as an umpire or coach."
