Encouraging comeback by Wasim

Former Test captain Wasim Akram took first steps in a bid to regain his place in the national side by grabbing three wickets as PIA trounced Bahawalpur by 10 wickets in the National One-day Cricket Championship Friday.

The ace left-arm fast bowler, looking in fine shape after being asked to prove his fitness, was immediately in his groove by disposing off Hammad Tariq, caught in the slips off the first legitimate delivery of the Pool 'A' fixture at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium.

After being sent in by PIA skipper Moin Khan, Bahawalpur were bundled out for a meagre 91 in 34.2 overs. Only captain Bilal Khilji (29 off 53 balls) and Mohammad Rashid (22 off 72 balls) exceeded the 20-run mark.

Wasim later claimed two more wickets in his second spell to finish with three for 29 in 8.2 overs. However, the pick of the bowlers was another Pakistan reject Azhar Mahmood. The all-rounder cut and swung the ball prodigiously to return remarkable analysis of three for eight in seven overs.

Saqlain Mushtaq, who was excluded from the Asian Test playing XI, also enhanced his claims by picking up two for 19 - the second victim being splendidly stumped by Moin. Opener Ghulam Ali then made light work of the target by smashing 58 off 67 balls. His knock was laced with four sixes and three fours.

Shoaib Mohammad, the 40-year-old ex-Test stalwart, however, struggled to contribute 25 off 67 balls. Had he showed more urgency, PIA would have been home much earlier than the 21.3 overs they ultimately had to face.