BLOG: The 2 W's, decades old wounds still spilling blood.

They were considered the most lethal and devastating fast bowling pair of the 90’s, a pair that mastered and lifted the art of reverse swing to uncatchable heights. One broke feet with his much feared toe-crushers while the other terrorised batsmen with his swinging bouncers. They hunted best in pairs and destroyed lineups regardless of conditions and oppositions.

Their love for the game and bonding together grew with every falling wicket, but somehow this happy union was hurt by someone’s envious wish and the love affair went sour.

Who can forget their all conquering smile pose during the 92 English tour where they cemented a clear domination over Graham Gooch’s men. But the very next year sowed the foundation of the great divide amongst the two most lethal quickies of modern era.

Jawed Miandad was stripped off captaincy after the failure of Down Under and Wasim was installed in his place. However, just after one series into captaincy against the West Indies, players complained off Wasim authoritative behavior and Waqar pulled off a mutiny that included some big names in the team. Akram had to resign and Salim Malik was installed as the compromise captain.

From then onwards, the breach could never be healed and the Demon of Mistrust kept rising its ugly face time to time. Friendship amongst the two was all but buried and the desire for revenge brewed with every possible opportunity.

Big year – Big Fights



1999 was the eventful year when differences between the two were elevated to the next level. They were hardly at talking terms during the short tour of India and poor Inzi had to run around playing the courier guy. But it was the World Cup in England where Wasim actually got to test Waqar’s nerves.

Despite all of Wasim’s tactics, Waqar somehow did find a place in the touring squad but remained mostly on the bench. The fire spitting Shoaib Akthar was at his fiercely best and that gave Wasim a good reason to curb his role to a water boy. Waqar only featured in the fateful game against Bangladesh while Wasim’s dream of walking high like Imran Khan were shattered by Kangaroos in the finals.

The rivalry resurfaced again in the later part of the year when Pakistan faced Australians in their backyard. Waqar was made to sit out the first test and Pakistan were hammed with a 10 wicket defeat. Waqar by now had passed his boiling point and decided to speak out in the press against Wasim, arguing that Akram’s long-term grudge was ruining his career and the best place to settle that bitterness was inside a room and not on the ground.

This outburst resulted in Waqar putting on his spikes in the Hobart test. His impact was felt immediately when he trapped Mark Waugh, next to follow was his trademark in-swinger that removed Rickey Ponting for a duck. The jubilation in Waqar’s follow-through was a clear reminder for Wasim that he could keep Waqar out of cricket, but certainly not cricket out of Waqar. Sadly Waqar faced an ankle injury and sat out the last test.

Wasim lost the captaincy after the 3-0 drubbing and Waqar got the armband during the 2001 England tour. Around this time the whistle blowing Justice Qayyum report came out highlighting the Evil of Match Fixing and greed in Pakistan cricket. Apart from other suggestions, one was never to let Wasim captain his country again.

Wasim kept playing under Waqar’s captaincy for the next year and a half, but these once good friends kept their fiercest revelries saved for the World Cup, neither having a heart big enough to let the other capture a permanent place in the countries folklore.

2003 World Cup, tempering the Bad-Blood

Wasim had a rocking World Cup where he bagged 3 against Australia in the opening match, and then took 3 against Netherlands to reach the magical 500 haul. He couldn’t kill any Indian batsmen in the all important Centurion game and this was perhaps convinced Waqar of deliberate underperformance.

In the next game against Zimbabwe, rain sealed Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament. While the nation was in shock, TV screens showed a relaxed and somewhat content looking Wasim standing outside the dressing room and warmly greeting the Zimbabwean players, this only added more wood to the already blazing fire.

The bitter rivalry had cracked yet another cup and the curtain fell simultaneously on the careers of two most illustrious fast bowlers of modern times.

In April 2004, while India was touring Pakistan, Waqar announced his retirement. During a packed News conference in an Islamabad hotel, Waqar minced no words in disclosing that he mistrusted a Few Friends during the 2003 Cup. His book would reveal the true story and characters.



Both have maintained that age and maturity has over taken the bitter taste and good sense prevails, sadly that’s only true till and before the World Cup.

For the mega event the expectations from Pakistani bowlers were always high, but Waqar’s boys have so far failed to impact mattering opponents. Wasim is in Australia and has repeatedly shown his willingness to shoulder the falling apart bowling line and put the spark in their plugs, but perhaps his help is as un-welcoming as his presence in the Pakistani dressing room.

While Waqar was made to keep towers dry and bottles filled during the 99 Cup, he must have kept repeating to himself the basic coaching tip, “Wait for the bad ball”. It’s his time now and he is solely calling the shots like the powerful before him did. By keeping Wasim out, his shattered Ego would definitely see satisfaction, but it might come at the cost of another broken Cup.