The 32-year-old paceman, who came in for heavy criticism after the World Cup this year, hit out at suggestions he should retire immediately and said he had high hopes of making a comeback.

"No one can force me to retire and I won't listen to anyone, and no one in the Pakistan Cricket Board has told me to retire because I feel I can play for one more year," Waqar told reporters.

"I have had a good year with the Warwickshire county this year and hope I get another chance to play with them next year so I can fight back into the team," added Waqar, who will fly to Australia next week to play grade cricket there.

Waqar, who formed a deadly bowling partnership with the retired Wasim Akram, was among eight players axed after the February-March World Cup in southern Africa.

An official report blamed Waqar for his obstinate handling of the team and said he did not cooperate with other players.

But Waqar refused to be drawn on the report's findings.

"It was disappointing to lose the way we did in the World Cup but it's not new in Pakistan. I don't want to be drawn into any controversy because I am still playing," said Waqar, who has rattled up 373 wickets in 87 Tests.

He insisted that a comeback was still on the cards.

"This is right that a sidelined player comes (back) as captain but I don't want to come as captain and am ready to stage a comeback as a player," said Waqar.

He said he had recently held a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Rameez Raja.

"I met Rameez but it was noting unusual. I will be back in Pakistan and will surely play in some of the domestic tournaments," he said.

Waqar's 416 international one-day wickets of 416 is second only to Wasim's world record of 502.