You are regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time. Did you always aspire to be remembered this way? When I started playing cricket at a very young age, I obviously didn’t even realise I would be playing for the national team one day. I only followed my passion and played with all my heart. I was always a very hard working lad. Whenever I picked up the ball, and started playing, I performed immensely. Destiny took me straight to the top, people started noticing and admiring me and off I went. Starting your career between the early and the mid 1980s, did you ever think you would one day be the coach of the Pakistani cricket team? I honestly never thought like that. Even when the years 1987 and 1988 were very positive and sound for my career, I still had no clue that I would one day be the captain or the coach of this team. I only played. Although, I did know that I’ll always be associated with the sport. I only wanted to progress each passing day. That’s how I am. Similarly, I never thought I’ll even be a commentator, which I am now. Experiences teach you a lot of things. I happy with my career as a cricket expert now. You have been the youngest Pakistani Test captain and the third youngest Test captain in history. What are the pros and cons of being so successful and famous at such a young age? Now when I look back, I feel great to have captained all the greats, like Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram. Those moments were so enjoyable and taught me so much at the same time. Yes, there are a lot of pros and cons of being famous and to achieve so much at a young age. Firstly your privacy goes out the window as you become public property. That sticks to you for the rest of your life. Whatever you do, everything is being watched and recorded. Your personal life is intruded. But then again, what comes with all of this is amazing like fame and finances. The game is being loved and you’re doing something that you always wanted to do. Very few people get opportunities like these. I was lucky that my most favourite hobby became my profession. I travelled the world. I carried the name of my country on my chest and on my shoulders. Together with bowling partner Wasim Akram, you formed one of the world’s most feared bowling attacks. How much is teamwork essential in achieving success? Teamwork is essential big-time! I was so lucky I had Wasim backing me. It makes it a lot easier as well. For the team, it becomes very successful. Wasim is a legendary fast bowler and has been one of the finest that Pakistan has produced. Had he not been bowling on the other end, I would not have achieved that mounting success. Wasim brought out the challenge inside me and vice versa. Our teamwork brought out the best in us. When you were Test Captain, what ethos and values did you try to instil in your teammates as a sportsman other than performing well on field? In the 1990s, Pakistan had the best cricket team and I was privileged to be the captain of that team. Most of my teammates were much older and more seasoned than me and I did not need to do much. You see, good friends make a good team. In the ’90s, we were very close to each other. Inzamamul Haq, Aaqib Javed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Moin Khan, Saeed Anwar, Basit Ali, Rashid Latif, etc! We were one bunch of under 19 kids who had all played for Pakistan earlier. But there were also seniors like Wasim Akram, Salim Malik and Javed Miandad who were my seniors and hence I didn’t need to indulge much in guiding them. It was tough for me too because they were so much more seasoned than I was and knew the game through and through. I didn’t know what ways to direct them in. What are you currently working on? I am a cricket expert, a TV commentator and analyst as well as a media person for cricket on Ten Sports. What other sport do you enjoy playing other than cricket? I watch every sport. I’m a big sports fan. I used to follow every sport when I was growing up. But I am lucky that I picked the right sport as profession. However, golf is also one of my all time favourites. Which according to you has been your biggest achievement so far? As a team, we tasted a lot of success during the ’90s. Beating England in their home country in ’92 was the highlight for us as we took home the World Cup. Although I wasn’t a part of it, as I had gotten injured and couldn’t be selected for the final team. Other than this, my personal achievements like taking record number of wickets, etc are also some which I cherish and take pride in. “Even though the years 1987 and 1988 were very positive and sound for my career, I still had no clue that I would one day be the captain or the coach of this team” Tell us about a memorable moment in your career.? Definitely the ’92 World Cup. That was the most memorable moment. I went to receive the team at the airport, waiting among the big dignitaries. And I remember that all the way from the airport to Data Sahib, we were travelling on trucks and I was crying. I’ll never forget that moment. How satisfied are you with the Pakistani cricket team of today? They have done well on this England tour. The expectations were not much. Beating England at Lord’s is a big achievement. Misbahul Haq stood out as it was a tough tour. The Pakistani cricket team was facing all kinds of controversies, and the pressures were immense. But to even draw the series there is quite commendable. What is your vision for Pakistan? It means everything to me. No Pakistan, no Waqar Younis. Without Pakistan, I’m a nobody. I want my country to grow in all fields. I want it to grow economically. I want to see cricket coming back to the country like the old days. I want terrorism to end as it’s damaging our country. I hope our country can once again start growing positively. We, at Daily Times, consider you one of our national heroes. Who are some of yours? Pakistan has produced some great heroes. Let’s start with Muhammad Ali Jinnah and then Muhammad Iqbal. After them, there is Imran Khan, Jahangir Khan and Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. These people have sacrificed everything for the country in different fields, like Abdul Sattar Edhi did. Achievements Record-setting Cricketer Former cricketer Waqar Younis holds the record for being the youngest Pakistani Test captain and the third youngest Test captain in history. Waqar Younis also holds the record for the best strike rate for any bowler with over 350 Test wickets. He is also the only bowler to have taken five wickets in an innings in three consecutive One Day International matches. In terms of deliveries bowled, he has taken the fastest 50, 300, 350 and 400 wickets in One Day International matches. As of September 2005, he was the only non-batsman to achieve a 1,000 runs without scoring a 50. A Sports Legend Younis is regarded as one of the greatest and fastest bowlers of all time. Together with bowling partner Wasim Akram, he formed one of the world’s most feared bowling attacks. Although primarily a fast bowler, Younis scored 1,010 Test match runs during his career. Younis was named among the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1992 for his sporting achievements. International Icon Younis joined Sunrisers Hyderabad as their bowling coach for the Indian Premier League 2013 season. Younis has also worked as a television sports commentator for the Nine Network in Australia and for Ten Sports in the United Arab Emirates. A Stellar Fan Following The world’s fastest sprinter and runner Usain Bolt, once replied while being asked about who were his heroes when he was a child, “When I was really small I loved the Pakistan cricket team. Waqar Younis was one of the greatest bowlers ever, and I was a bowler so I really enjoyed watching him. I was a big Pakistan fan until I got older, when I noticed that I should actually support my home team.”