The two captains have developed a mutual respect and friendship through sharing the Lancashire dressing room over the last eight years and they are looking to foster that spirit on the pitch in an effort to end the recent history of conflict between the two cricketing nations.

Their common goal will not be helped by the on-going High Court battle between Ian Botham, Allan Lamb and Imran Khan, but England's captain stressed: ``Both teams in the coming months will need to maintain their sense of perspective. It is particu- larly incumbent upon myself and Wasim as there will be many dis- tractions - High Court cases, untimely autobiographies and umpires jumping on the bandwagon.

``But I hope that our friendship will win the day and that while the cricket will be competitive on the field, common sense will prevail off it.''

Wasim, who took over the captaincy just before the World Cup, is looking to avoid controversy at all costs and concentrate solely on winning the series. ``We do not want to talk about the past,'' he said. ``We are here to play positive cricket and then go home quietly like other teams.''

Meanwhile, Waqar Younis is clear to spearhead Pakistan's attack at Lord's. The fast bowler had the Pakistan management worried after he limped out of the seven-wicket Tetley Bitter Challenge defeat against Warwickshire at Edgbaston last week.

Waqar missed the match against Kent in order to rest a strained hamstring. After a hard workout yesterday, though, he was cleared for Test action.

``Waqar has been taking a full part in training,'' confirmed Dan Kiesel, Pakistan's physiotherapist. ``He was left out of the Kent match purely as a precaution.''