Akram to retire after England tour — report

Islamabad, January 8: Pakistanâ€™s legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram may announce his retirement from international crick...

Islamabad, January 8: Pakistanâ€™s legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram may announce his retirement from international cricket after the tour of England this summer, media reports said today.

â€˜The Newsâ€™ said it had learnt through â€˜reliable sourcesâ€™ that the former Pakistan captain had reached a confidential understanding with the Pakistan Cricket Board that he would retire after the tour to England in May-June this year on fitness grounds.

Akram, who is the only bowler to have claimed over 400 wickets in both tests and one-day matches, had a poor home series against England in November and there were speculations that he was dropped when he did not play the final test at Karachi due to a back problem.

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However, the Board made repeated statements after the series that Akram was not dropped and would be included in the squad for the upcoming tours of New Zealand and Sharjah provided he was fit.

The paper quoted sources as saying that former Pakistan great Imran Khan had also impressed upon PCB chairman Gen Tauqir Zia not to drop Akram or any other senior player as their experience would be needed in the upcoming tours.

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