da leao： Former captain Wasim Akram Tuesday said he was confidentthat this year would help him lead-up to next year’s WorldCup
02-Jan-2002Former captain Wasim Akram Tuesday said he was confidentthat this year would help him lead-up to next year’s WorldCup.”I am determined to perform well for myself as well as forthe team so that I am on top of my game for next year’sWorld Cup. This year is definitely important and I am takingthis as a challenge,” Wasim, 36, said at the NationalStadium.Wasim had a poor last year by his standards. In the threeTests, he picked up five wickets while in 12 one-dayersmanaged just 14.Wasim survived the axe by the skin of the teeth for the tourto England before he was overlooked for the training campfor the Asian Test Championship.He found a place in the Asian Test match against Bangladeshbut went wicketless while Waqar Younis returned with sixwickets.”I think I bowled my heart out in that match. But luckdidn’t go my way. At this stage of my career, I need someluck as well to keep myself geared up,” Wasim said.The left-hander admitted that it was difficult to keep onemotivated against team like Bangladesh who have lost sevenof the eight Tests since getting into the ICC fold in 2000.”Frankly speaking it is very hard to motivate yourself forseries against Bangladesh. But the coach and the captainhave done well to motivate the players.”Wasim hoped that his negotiations with Glamorgan were likelyto be finalized later this month. But he said he would signon his terms and conditions.”I will play on my conditions for Glamorgan because theycame to me for a contract. At 36 my body doesn’t allow me toplay in the gruelling cricket season in England. I want theoption of being selective,” he said.Wasim said Pakistan was the only team that can give thetoughest fight to Australia. “This year we have a series ofmatches against them which will prove where we stand andwhat is the difference between the two teams.”