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For Wasim Akram, it was possibly the happiest beginning of a New Year.

The 1999 promised a new lease of life for the controversy-ridden fast bowler. On January 2, he was re-appointed captain of the Pakistan team until World Cup just when it appeared to many that the career of the celebrated cricketer was on the verge of ending. For Wasim Ak-ram, it was possi-bly the happiest beginning of a New Year.

The 1999 pro-mised a new lease of life for the controversy-ridden fast bowler. On January 2, he was re-appointed captain of the Pakistan team until World Cup just when it appeared to many that the career of the celebrated cricketer was on the verge of ending.

Akram was stripped of the captaincy in January last year after Pakistan lost in the Sharjah Cup one-day tournament amidst renewed allegations of match-fixing against him. Then he was dropped from the team once and drafted in again as a player. Subsequently he turned down offers to lead Pakistan in June.

And then came the crucial moment of his life when he was accused as a cheat by a Pakistan Cricket Board-nominated judge in his bribery investigation. PCB, hinting Akram's involvement in match-fixing allegations, recommended to the selectors that he not be chosen unless the matter was resolved. The decision came fast and furious from the lethal left-arm speedster. Cricket world was caught by a sudden shock hearing that 'Akram is giving up Test cricket!'

The Pakistan Board, which is mostly adept at playing musical chairs for captaincy, appeared unnerved at Akram pulling strings. But the selectors wasted no time in turning to Akram again once Pakistan were lashed by Australia and lowly-rated Zimbabwe in their home series under skipper Aamir Sohail.

``My problems are over now and this is a New Year's gift for me. I will try my best to take Pakistan back on the winning track,'' Akram promised then.

And Akram has kept that promise. He led from the front to give Pakistan an elusive taste of Test wins over their Asian rivals -India and Sri Lanka. In the course of last three months he secured the fifth place (with 378) on the all-time wicket-takers' list and accomplished a hattrick twice in the Asian Test Championship to become the only bowler to do it twice in both forms of cricket -- Test and one-day international.

The phenomenal all-rounder, who is also the only bowler to have 350-plus wickets in both Test and one-day international, had a hearty chat with the Daily Star Sport at the pool side area of the Sonargaon Hotel on January 17.

Daily Star Sport: In the last couple of months Pakistan beat India twice on the Indian soil and won the Asian Test Championship trophy (beating Sri Lanka in the final). Do you think Pakistan is picking up at the right time ahead of the World Cup?

Wasim Akram: Correction, we also beat Bangladesh! We had a one bad year surely. But obviously, the team was not mentally there. Their places in the side were not confirmed. They were scared. So, the moment I accepted the captaincy, I have assured them, nobody will be dropped. Everybody is going to get a fair chance. And we have to work hard and make winning a habit. They all agreed. And you see the difference in a month. Now they have beaten two teams in three-week's time.

DSS: You became the first Pakistan captain to win a Test match against India at Eden Gardens. How do you rate the stupendous success after being reduced to 26 for 6?

WA: Is it? I'm the first Pakistani captain to win a Test match in Calcutta? It was certainly a brilliant comeback. The boys were not scared about the fact that we were 26 for six. They said that they would fight. I mean, Moin Khan has been amazing as a person, as vice-captain, as wicketkeeper and as batsman. I think, he is the backbone of Pakistan team. He fought out there. And when we got 188 runs we were confident of winning the match.

DSS: Before the Calcutta Test you said that Waqar would be in the side. But Shoaib Akhter eventually replaced Waqar in Calcutta. What went wrong with your long-time partner?

WA: Waqar's rhythm was not there. He played in two games. So, we have just tried with Shoaib. And he (Shoaib) won us a match at Calcutta. But Waqar is in the nineteen-man Pakistan World Cup team. His experience is still there. His career is not over. He is playing first-class cricket at home now. So, when he gets back his rhythm he will be back in the side.

DSS: You played with Waqar for a long-time. Now, you have a new-ball partner in the likes of Shoaib. Do you feel the same confidence with Shoaib that you have had with Waqar at the other end?

WA: Shoaib is a bit young. Whereas Waqar started as much more controlled bowler. Shoaib is definitely in the same league. But he's got to work very hard to go even with Waqar. Shoaib is an attacking bowler. It's fun playing with someone relay fast, for whom people are scared of. I've spent the best time of my career playing along with Waqar. I have enjoyed every bit of it.

DSS: You took fifteen wickets in the Asian Test Championship. And more importantly, you have just crossed legendary West Indian fast bowler Malcom Marshal with a bag of 378 wickets. How long, do you think, it will take you to cross Kapil Dev's world record of 434 wickets?

WA: That depends on how my body feels. So far, it's feeling all right. I think, hopefully, in another ten to twelve Test matches I will be there.

DSS: You were in and out of the Pakistan team for quite a while...

WA: Back home, we had a lot of politics in cricket. But we've now Khalid Mahmood, the chairman. He is the man who has given the Pakistan team the confidence. When I was dropped, they said that I was injured, but I wasn't. Everything is okay now. I was picked again on my merit.

DSS: But when Aamir Sohail got the axe on your return there are also words on the air that he is a victim of politics.

WA: There should not be any politics in sports. That's what I believe. But in our culture it's a very common practice. You can not stop it. It's in every sport ... hockey, cricket and football, wherever you go. So, it's (politics) just part of it (sports). We, the players have to part ways with it by showing our performance on the field.

DSS: You have blasted the Indian press for igniting the violence in Calcutta recently. You're going to India again. Are you still in the same mood?

WA: They were not solely responsible for what happened in Calcutta. But they were the one who agitated the people. They should be nice with their write-ups. That's what I meant. They should have focused on things of the tour that were going so well. Besides, they should have remembered that we were there to build a relationship between two countries.

DSS: Do you think the format of the Asian Test Championship, to be precise the points system, is all right?

WA: I think, the points system is good. I have enjoyed it. It is quite simple and the simpler the better.

DSS: In your view what's the prospect of the Pakistan team in the England World Cup?

WA: World Cup is bit too far. We will play Pepsi Cup in India and then the Sharjah Cup. It all depends on how we perform there. No doubt, our confidence is very high. The boys will fight. They are enjoying winning. So, that's important. Before the World Cup we will have to win one of the tournaments so that we can tell the world that we are good enough to beat any side in the world.

South Africa are quite up there. Australia and England have also fair chances in the World Cup. But you can not think just one side of it. Every side will be tough to beat. It just depends on who hits the pick at the right time. Besides that, batting will be very crucial in England. Saeed has to play fifty overs to win a World Cup for Pakistan.

DSS: As an all-rounder you are not getting that much runs these days.

WA: I'm just batting at number eight or number nine. I tried to help the team whenever I could. I got two crucial 30-plus (runs) in Chennai and in Calcutta. At this moment there are people like Azhar Mahmood and Moin Khan who are better than me. So, batting at number eight.. I believe, you can't do much.

DSS: You have played one match against Bangladesh. Where do you think our cricket stands at this moment?

WA: I've been telling you since I came to play for Abahani that you got to have first-class cricket. Had you started three-year's back your cricket would have been in much better state by now. You will have to play longer-version of cricket to get better players who can leave the ball... I mean, who can play bouncers. I think the talent is there, the trust is there. Look at the crowd of yesterday (Tuesday). It was full house. So, everything is there. You just have to switch to first-class cricket and within two or three years your cricket will improve immensely. Starting sooner is the better for Bangladesh.