Waqar could have played for another 2 years

[Irfan25]

This is not a thread out of nostalgia but a few things to note:

1.Waqar was renowned for his fitness

2.Even today(yes he has put on weight) he doesn't look out of shape as an ex cricketer.

Fact of the matter is the PCB shunned him but a talent like that should have been in the team for another 2 and a half years maximum. He became a controlled swing bowler and would have been decent, not spectacular but decent. I feel that he could have played from 2003 to 2005 and then bowed out.

Oh well that's the PCB for you.

It kind of draws parallels with Football and other sports. Zidane, although much slower and a little less sharper than his heyday could still do a job, so too could an Aggassi in Tennis or a Figo and Crespo(Crespo isn't as fast as he used to be nor as menacing but still became more intelligent and did the right things when they needed to be done, much like Romario who is still playing and banging in the goals at 40 years of age)

Your thoughts?

[safehands46]

Originally Posted by Irfan25 This is not a thread out of nostalgia but a few things to note: 1.Waqar was renowned for his fitness 2.Even today(yes he has put on weight) he doesn't look out of shape as an ex cricketer. Fact of the matter is the PCB shunned him but a talent like that should have been in the team for another 2 and a half years maximum. He became a controlled swing bowler and would have been decent, not spectacular but decent. I feel that he could have played from 2003 to 2005 and then bowed out. Oh well that's the PCB for you. It kind of draws parallels with Football and other sports. Zidane, although much slower and a little less sharper than his heyday could still do a job, so too could an Aggassi in Tennis or a Figo and Crespo(Crespo isn't as fast as he used to be nor as menacing but still became more intelligent and did the right things when they needed to be done, much like Romario who is still playing and banging in the goals at 40 years of age) Your thoughts?

I remember in 95 a rumour had came out that imran would come back for another world cup. The basis the man saw him running in the park and then in the nets one day. Imran then was far fitter and still probably is extremely fit stamina wise. The other winter i saw him hiking with 10 pound weights on his ankles. But there is a matter of mental pounding that international demands. I think waqar was over it. He could of hung around the chance would have come if he performed like inzi did right after the world cup. But for some guys to come back and be mediocre isnt enough.

Secondly waqar would have a place in the current second side we have bu t otherwise, he wouldnt make it he wasnt even opening the bowling for pakistan during the world cup.

[banana_246]

He was only 31 when he retired, so he could have played for 4 years consdering he would remian fit (like Mcgrath whoose 36, and is in the form of his life). But the reason the PCB dropped him was becasue theY wanted young blood, and fresh air in this Pakistani team who did terrible in WC 2003.

[Irfan25]

Originally Posted by safehands46 he wasnt even opening the bowling for pakistan during the world cup.

That was (his own) choice.

[mkexpress]

Yes i would hav to agree, if he was in any other intl team he would hav def played for another couple of years!

[safehands46]

Originally Posted by Irfan25 That was (his own) choice.

Your saying with shoaib,rana,asif,kaneria,razzaq, afridi, malik,gul,sami, he would have played.

brilliant.

yeah maybe for india he could play right now.

I will say this thinking about it though he was bowling 87-88 consistently though.

[Irfan25]

Same = oh please! the guys crap
Gul= floating rubbish please dont put him in the same sentence as vicky
razzaq = oh please
malik = rubbish
rana = not in vickys league(im talking about the 2001-2003 vicky)
asif = unproven
shoaib = depends which shoiab shows up

im sorry but the list of the "better" bowlers that you have given is not on. They are all poor and mediocre and a 34 yr old waqar would have done a better job.

[safehands46]

Originally Posted by Irfan25 Same = oh please! the guys crap Gul= floating rubbish please dont put him in the same sentence as vicky razzaq = oh please malik = rubbish rana = not in vickys league(im talking about the 2001-2003 vicky) asif = unproven shoaib = depends which shoiab shows up im sorry but the list of the "better" bowlers that you have given is not on. They are all poor and mediocre and a 34 yr old waqar would have done a better job.

Sami: not one person would have agreed back then
Gul: he was top notch prospect rated by imran
Rana: was new but he was playing well
shoaib: was shaoib

Your probably right though, he was bowling fast enough. He could have carried on. Board never offered him the chance. He didnt do anything about like first class cricket or so on.

I was just ****** for a bit from the other thread

[Awesome Anjum]

Waqar was well past it during 2002/2003. No chance in hell he could have played any longer.

[safehands46]

The more I think about it until woolmer came nothing was stable. We had alot political cleaning. In the end it proved better for pakistan.

[Schiller]

he is lucky he played after 1999 to begin with. another 2 years,

[IMMY69]

Originally Posted by Irfan25 Same = oh please! the guys crap Gul= floating rubbish please dont put him in the same sentence as vicky razzaq = oh please malik = rubbish rana = not in vickys league(im talking about the 2001-2003 vicky) asif = unproven shoaib = depends which shoiab shows up im sorry but the list of the "better" bowlers that you have given is not on. They are all poor and mediocre and a 34 yr old waqar would have done a better job.

34 year old waqar??? sure if u go by the records...but in reality its more like 37/38 years old....

waqar was getting smakec around the park towards the end of his career...i am glad he retired before taking some real humiliation...

and please dont slate the present bowlers...under these bowlers he have not lost a single test series since aussie 2004/2005...and are presently sitting pretty it no.2....with all the talent of the late nineties and upto 2004 we never managed to reach no.2 position so enough criticising and looking back through tinted glasses...lets back what we have now and hope that our present test match form continues...

[fast]

he did play in the 20/20 match did he??, looked to be bowling about 80-85mph

[azcali78]

Originally Posted by IMMY69 34 year old waqar??? sure if u go by the records...but in reality its more like 37/38 years old.... waqar was getting smakec around the park towards the end of his career...i am glad he retired before taking some real humiliation... and please dont slate the present bowlers...under these bowlers he have not lost a single test series since aussie 2004/2005...and are presently sitting pretty it no.2....with all the talent of the late nineties and upto 2004 we never managed to reach no.2 position so enough criticising and looking back through tinted glasses...lets back what we have now and hope that our present test match form continues...

What is Waqars real age is only Allah knows and Mr. Younis himself. Thats beside the point. I think Waqar was past his prime no doubt about that but he was still better then what we had in 2003 and our same bowlers still struggling with fitness. Inzy played as a role model for all our batsmen he could have done with bowlers but now he is coach so thats kind a worked out in a similar manner. Pakistan never did well between 1996-2000 wasnt because of our bowler but it was becuse of political and power stuggle in team for captaincy when har natho lal wanted to be a skipper of pakistan. Also, our batting was medicore in 1996-2003. It was only Saeed and Inzy, where Inzy was out of form between 1998-2002 when he hit that famous 329.

[iZeeshan]

I think you're getting this idea from the fact that he bowled 10/10 match. But like someone said above, the mental strain can also get to you. And of course, he was under intense pressure because of his atrocious captaincy in the WC 2003. But match playing and fitness wise, yea could still be playing for Pakistan...

[IMMY69]

Originally Posted by azcali78 What is Waqars real age is only Allah knows and Mr. Younis himself. Thats beside the point. I think Waqar was past his prime no doubt about that but he was still better then what we had in 2003 and our same bowlers still struggling with fitness. Inzy played as a role model for all our batsmen he could have done with bowlers but now he is coach so thats kind a worked out in a similar manner. Pakistan never did well between 1996-2000 wasnt because of our bowler but it was becuse of political and power stuggle in team for captaincy when har natho lal wanted to be a skipper of pakistan. Also, our batting was medicore in 1996-2003. It was only Saeed and Inzy, where Inzy was out of form between 1998-2002 when he hit that famous 329.

my freind look back at history (only few years ago)...and then see whether we missed waqar younis........post 2003 worldcup we beat saffies at home in test matches and kiwis in new zealand in test matches...all without waqar (or wasim)...so before you go tallking about this void and the fact that waqar could have carried on...this only becomes a necessity if we were losing or doing really badly durint this period...which clearly we were not....

[Easa]

Originally Posted by Schiller he is lucky he played after 1999 to begin with. another 2 years,

He was still effective in the shorter form of the game even though he was on the downward spiral in the longer form.

[Has]

Waqar is 40.

[Awesome Anjum]

Originally Posted by Has Waqar is 40.

Are we talking about his age or his bowling average during his last few seasons ?

[Rana]

waqar is 34 or 35, not 40!

[Has]

Waqar is 46.

[Rana]

wasim akram is 40 Has

[cavin420]

both waqar and saeed anwar could have played for another year max.

[Has]

I am the eggman.

[waqar younus fan]

Waqar Younus is still better than the likes olf Sami, Gul and Razaq. As a captain he was not the best but he should have still played for the team.

[Oxy]

I jokingly said to my mate at the 20-20 game that people would be calling for Waqar's inclusion after his 2 over spell!!!

Waqar may be officially the same age as me - but he is closer to 40 years old at the moment.

[Pathan007]

Wasim Akran can bowl quicker than waqar at the moment.

[Oxy]

Originally Posted by Pathan007 Wasim Akran can bowl quicker than waqar at the moment.

We shouldnt be slating our RETIRED heroes - they've done their bit......international comebacks are not advisable.

[azcali78]

Originally Posted by IMMY69 my freind look back at history (only few years ago)...and then see whether we missed waqar younis........post 2003 worldcup we beat saffies at home in test matches and kiwis in new zealand in test matches...all without waqar (or wasim)...so before you go tallking about this void and the fact that waqar could have carried on...this only becomes a necessity if we were losing or doing really badly durint this period...which clearly we were not....

We barely won against SA and lost the 5 match ODI series after winning the first two. Did I need to mention the 2004 Home series vs. India and the 04-05 series against Aussies, oh yeah I almost forgot the home series tie to Srilanka. We were not setting the world on fire as you mentioned. It was only we started to win after the 05 India series and we have won the last test of that series because of our spinners.

Waqar had a great record at home and in the limited time he got in Aussie land. I am not saying that Waqar would have been success if he stayed on but this can’t be said that he was going to be complete failure. I am big fan of Sami but day in day out he has disappointed me and Pakistan team. We all know that Waqar even in his not so prime year of twilight of his carrier he was and is better then Sami, Razaaq and Rana.

[akpower]

Originally Posted by azcali78 What is Waqars real age is only Allah knows and Mr. Younis himself. Thats beside the point. I think Waqar was past his prime no doubt about that but he was still better then what we had in 2003 and our same bowlers still struggling with fitness. Inzy played as a role model for all our batsmen he could have done with bowlers but now he is coach so thats kind a worked out in a similar manner. Pakistan never did well between 1996-2000 wasnt because of our bowler but it was becuse of political and power stuggle in team for captaincy when har natho lal wanted to be a skipper of pakistan. Also, our batting was medicore in 1996-2003. It was only Saeed and Inzy, where Inzy was out of form between 1998-2002 when he hit that famous 329.

Inzy out of form between 98-02??? That is news for me. Never herad that one before.

Anywayz we all know that most of these cricketers are few yrs older then their official ages, if someone doesn't accept that its just naiveity on his part. Khair, Waqar could hv played couple yrs but we certainly had better options. He was one of my all time fav players and it would have been sort of disgraceful to see him dropped after the WC and then picked again and then dropped again for good.

He did promise that he will make a return, but w/ Aamir at the helm I think he realized that it wont happen anytime soon. But then again the way Sami shaped up, I would have had Waqar bowl anyday over the rubbish that Sami has been bowling for 3 yrs now. But hindsight is hindsight. I think Waqar did well to retire at that time, he was well past his prime.

[Irfan25]

Whats with the obsession with age?

Half the Pakistani team don't have proper birth records and are probably 2-4 yrs older than they actually claim they are. Razzaq,Afridi and co are older than their "official age". Something that I'm very sure about especially from cousins in Pakistan who have known some of these blokes personally.

A 2003 world cup Waqar was bowling at 87 mph...I dont't care if he was 45 years of age but thats one helluva effort for someone who was coming to the end.

To say that Sami and co are better than a 2003 Waqar is a big insult to the game itself and typical pindu type posting. I'm not going hoo haa over Waqar being able to play for a few more years it's just a thought and a mere thread discussion. But honestly speak to any person who actually plays the game or has played at a high level and they will tell you that Waqar had more skill in 2003 then Sami and co have now. Something maintained by Darren Gough who was in my town recently and I had the oppurtunity to ask him about Waqar and he was very suprised that he retired prematurely. I'd rather give his opinions merit than the views of a few armchair fans.

[Oxy]

Originally Posted by Irfan25 To say that Sami and co are better than a 2003 Waqar is a big insult to the game itself and typical pindu type posting. Darren Gough-I'd rather give his opinions merit than the views of a few armchair fans.

Irfan - Ive said it before, and I will say it again. DON'T call fellow posters PAINDOO just because they dont agree with you.

As for respecting Gough's opinions, not the rest of us....why post on this forum - did you think Darren Gough would be the only one who would reply & agree?

[Somali Pirate]

waqar was over the hill and he was past it.

[Irfan25]

Originally Posted by Oxy™ Irfan - Ive said it before, and I will say it again. DON'T call fellow posters PAINDOO just because they dont agree with you. As for respecting Gough's opinions, not the rest of us....why post on this forum - did you think Darren Gough would be the only one who would reply & agree?

sorry yaar, fair point, you're right I shouldn't be calling them paindu. My apologies.

Had a day off work and I've been doing paining in the house and that's stressed me out so I'm having a go at everybody.

Lads I'm sorry.

[Oxy]

Originally Posted by Irfan25 sorry yaar, fair point, you're right I shouldn't be calling them paindu. My apologies. Had a day off work and I've been doing paining in the house and that's stressed me out so I'm having a go at everybody. Lads I'm sorry.

I couldnt care if you are painting Buckhingham Palace! Sort it out!

[akpower]

Originally Posted by Irfan25 Whats with the obsession with age? Half the Pakistani team don't have proper birth records and are probably 2-4 yrs older than they actually claim they are. Razzaq,Afridi and co are older than their "official age". Something that I'm very sure about especially from cousins in Pakistan who have known some of these blokes personally. .

Yes. But half of the Pak team was not 31 and on a massive decline.

[Irfan25]

Originally Posted by akpower Yes. But half of the Pak team was not 31 and on a massive decline.

You're right, they are 26 and on a massive decline.

[Oxy]

Arent we moving UP the official rankings.....

[akpower]

Originally Posted by Irfan25 Whats with the obsession with age? Half the Pakistani team don't have proper birth records and are probably 2-4 yrs older than they actually claim they are. Razzaq,Afridi and co are older than their "official age". Something that I'm very sure about especially from cousins in Pakistan who have known some of these blokes personally. A 2003 world cup Waqar was bowling at 87 mph...I dont't care if he was 45 years of age but thats one helluva effort for someone who was coming to the end. To say that Sami and co are better than a 2003 Waqar is a big insult to the game itself and typical pindu type posting. I'm not going hoo haa over Waqar being able to play for a few more years it's just a thought and a mere thread discussion. But honestly speak to any person who actually plays the game or has played at a high level and they will tell you that Waqar had more skill in 2003 then Sami and co have now. Something maintained by Darren Gough who was in my town recently and I had the oppurtunity to ask him about Waqar and he was very suprised that he retired prematurely. I'd rather give his opinions merit than the views of a few armchair fans.

There were much better bowling prospects then Waqar at that age, and there still are. At that point Sami looked like the real deal, and had to be backed. In fact one of Sami's biggest supporters was Waqar himself.

[DM]

Hmm, to be honest i have to disagree, I think he played past his sell-by date for international cricket. I would watch him take the new ball and wish for Akhtar to have had it instead.

That said, he was magificent at his peak.

[akpower]

Originally Posted by Oxy™ Arent we moving UP the official rankings.....

Yes Oxy but certain people forget all of that. Just because the team is ravaged by injuries they think its time to call back the oldies or that they shd have been retained etc. In hindsight it looks convenient but really that was not the way to go.

Among the players sacked, I think only Saeed shd have been persisted. Thats it.

[RumiNYC]

waqar thought since his wife is doctor, why i'm still playing ;) that's why he quit, dumbo

[Irfan25]

Guys!

I'm not saying that Waqar should have come back for another decade! of course not!

I have said that he had another 2 yrs left in him. NO he wouldn't be spectacular. Sadly Father time doesnt spare anyone, but he would have been very useful and better than some of our YOUNG lot.

[SheerClass]

Regarding Waqar's and Wasim's age i have it from a very good source that

Waqar is infact 40 (y do u think he retired so early, a sports star retiring at 31 .... comeon)
Wasim 45 (or even a little older)

[Hash]

Originally Posted by banana_246 He was only 31 when he retired, so he could have played for 4 years consdering he would remian fit (like Mcgrath whoose 36, and is in the form of his life). But the reason the PCB dropped him was becasue theY wanted young blood, and fresh air in this Pakistani team who did terrible in WC 2003.

BY his own admission he was a few years older than his official age so he wasn't 31 at all.

[Hash]

Originally Posted by SheerClass Regarding Waqar's and Wasim's age i have it from a very good source that Waqar is infact 40 (y do u think he retired so early, a sports star retiring at 31 .... comeon) Wasim 45 (or even a little older)

ketchup or mustard?

[Oxy]

Originally Posted by SheerClass Regarding Waqar's and Wasim's age i have it from a very good source that Waqar is infact 40 (y do u think he retired so early, a sports star retiring at 31 .... comeon) Wasim 45 (or even a little older)

No one disputes Waqar's true age, but I actually met Wasim Akram 21 years ago when he was 19-20 - and he was not 25 at the time...