AFP/Karachi
Legendary Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram said yesterday he will marry his Australian girlfriend, who has converted to Islam and will settle down in his home country.
Australian media reported that Wasim proposed on bended knee to Shaniera Thompson in her living room. “Yes, I will marry next year and I’ve known Shaniera for the last one-and-a-half years and she has converted to Islam,” Wasim said over telephone from England. “I feel lucky that I have got a second chance in life.”
The 47-year-old’s first wife Huma died in 2009.
Wasim said Thompson, a former public relations consultant, will settle down in Pakistan. “She is close to my kids who are also excited and my in-laws (Huma’s parents) also endorsed the decision after meeting her,” said Wasim, who has two sons from his previous marriage. “It will be a new life, a new beginning and I hope that we will settle down well with the best wishes of family and fans,” he added.
Wasim played 104 Tests and 356 one-day internationals for Pakistan in a career lasting from 1984 to 2003. He was regarded as one of the best left-arm fast bowlers to have played the game and remains a major celebrity in Pakistan.
Wasim was ‘Player of the Tournament’ in the country’s only triumph in the World Cup, in Australia in 1992. He also captained Pakistan to a runners-up finish in the 1999 World Cup in England.
Pakistan team leaves for the Caribbean
Pakistan’s one-day squad left for the Caribbean with captain Misbah-ul Haq hoping to reverse the team’s dwindling fortunes in the limited-overs matches. Pakistan will play five one-day and two Twenty20 matches on the tour, with the first match in Guyana on July 14. Misbah will lead the one-day team while Mohammad Hafeez will skipper the Twenty20 side.
Misbah said the tour was important as it would help the team regain their confidence after a humiliating Champions Trophy last month, in which Pakistan lost all three matches.
“We will do our best to play hard and positive cricket and ensure that a poor show in the Champions Trophy is behind us,” Misbah said before their departure late Sunday. “The squad is focused on putting up a good show which will help in ending the disappointment of our fans and bring the confidence back.”
Dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi was recalled in the 16-man squad after missing the Champions Trophy in England, while there were also recalls for Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shahzad. Umar will also keep wickets in the absence of his elder brother Kamran, dropped for the series. Also left out were Shoaib Malik and Imran Farhat, who both failed in the Champions Trophy. Three players—Hamad Azam, Zulfiqar Baber and Sohail Tanveer—will leave for the Caribbean later to feature in the two Twenty20 matches.