Waqar Younis, who made a formidable pair of opening bowlers with Wasim Akram for many years, has been ruled out of competitive cricket for two or three weeks on medical grounds.

One of the few fastest bowlers of present times, Waqar Younis has been bothered by trouble in his right elbow. The Pakistan team physiotherapist Dr Dan Kiesel told Dawn on Friday afternoon that while bowling fast, Waqar Younis still felt pain. He said that Waqar's flexor muscles of right elbow were still tight. Waqar's oblique Promuter-teres muscle of forearm gave him pain when he tries to bowl fast.

Dan Kiesel said that he had submitted a report to the Pakistan Cricket Board that Waqar could play competitive cricket after two or three weeks. However, he expressed happiness over the fact that Waqar's functional arm was responding well to physiotherapy and treatment.

``If he bowls slowly, Waqar does not feel any pain'', said Dan Kiesel.

While representing Glamorgan county during this English cricket season, the toe-crusher Waqar Younis had to leave the matches midway this year due to his elbow-trouble.