Anwar back in Pak fold

Pakistan's celebrated pacer Wasim Akram said on Tuesday he was "honoured" after being named in Pakistan's World Cup squad for the fifth time.

Wasim, 36, said he hoped to help Pakistan return to the form which won them the 1992 title earned them the runners-up spot at the last World Cup.

Seasoned opener Saeed Anwar was also named in the 15-man squad for the tournament in southern Africa, which starts in February.

"I am honoured and will do my best to lead Pakistan to Cup glory and make it a memorable swan song," Wasim told AFP.

Sri Lanka's Aravinda de Silva will also be playing in his fifth World Cup. The record for the most appearances belongs to former Pakistan star Javed Miandad, who played in the first seven tournaments after the event began in England in 1975.

Wasim warned doubters not to write Pakistan off despite their recent slump in form.

"I have a feeling that Pakistan will achieve the best results and it's a balanced and experienced squad," he said.

"Let the World Cup come and every team will look different and Pakistan's track record in the World Cup is good," he added.

Pakistan beat Australia 2-1 in June but then lost seven of their 11 one-day matches in August-September.

They recovered to beat Zimbabwe 5-0 in a one-day series but then plummeted to another low with a 4-1 defeat against South Africa.

Wasim, having taken the most one-day wickets with 490, also has the highest wicket aggregate in the World Cup at 43 in 32 matches.

But he said Pakistan's campaign hinged on its batsmen.

"Pakistan has the best bowling attack and it boils down to batting and I hope batsmen will regroup in the World Cup."

Continuous batting failures forced the recall of Anwar, who holds the international one-day record score of 194 runs.

The 34-year-old had been dropped from the team because of a lack of form and fitness.

All-rounder Azhar Mahmood, recovering from a shoulder injury in England, also won a place.

However there was no berth for former captain Moin Khan.

Pakistan, world champions in 1992 and runners-up in the last Cup in 1999, are in Pool A alongside defending world champions Australia, England, Zimbabwe, Namibia, India and the Netherlands, with the top three progressing to the Super Sixes stage.

The team is expected to leave for South Africa on January 24 and will open their campaign with a mouth-watering clash against defending world champions Australia on February 11 in Johannesburg.

SQUAD

Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamamul Haq (vice-captain), Saeed Anwar, Taufiq Umer, Saleem Elahi, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Wasim Akram, Rashid Latif, Mohammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar and Saqlain Mushtaq.