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Wasim Akram proved Monday that he still deserves a place in the team not on charity but on merit as he silenced his critics with an impressive performance at the National Stadium.

Wasim's figures of three for 37 may not be as significant as his ability to still fire down 18 overs in a day as Waqar Younis' Pakistan Reds was dismissed for 283 shortly before stumps on the opening day of the two-day match. Wasim looked fitter and comparatively slimmer which helped him bend his back on a wicket which initially looked to have assistance for the seamers but instead turned out to be a placid one.

At times, the 35-year-old left arm demon pacer strayed down the leg side and bowled short of length. But that was understandable as he was playing his first competitive match since the Lord's final on June 23.

Had the hand-picked selectors invited him for the training camp, he would have been more sharper, quicker and bang on target. Now, he might require a couple of matches before getting into his strides and rhythm. Wasim, during his three spells, sent out clear signals that he was still keen to cherish his dreams of playing Test cricket for another couple of years and in the process overhaul Kapil Dev's record of 434 Test wickets. Wasim has 414 in 102 matches.

Wasim's first spell of 7-1-19-1 was not the true reward for his efforts. After having Taufiq Umer caught in the first slip, the former captain tested Faisal Iqbal's potential to the limits with a barrage of short-pitched deliveries and the ball which leaves the batsman with the natural angle.

The champion left-armer returned after lunch for a brief spell of 4-1-7-0. However, it was his final spell of 7-3-11-2 which saw Wasim get the ball reverse swing. After making the batsmen hop and run with an old and soft ball, Wasim struck twice with the second new ball. While dismissing Irfan Fazil, Wasim showed his athleticism and reflexes when he held a sharp return catch and then had Shoaib Akhtar caught at mid-on.

While Wasim Akram's performance will leave the befuddled selectors something to think about, the four-man committee would be delighted with impressive knocks from young guns Salman Butt and Faisal Iqbal who featured in a 148-run second wicket partnership.

Left-handed Salman showed the temperament and exquisite timing while hitting a polished 61 off 161 balls with seven boundaries. The most appealing aspect of Salman's batting was his non- interest in deliveries outside the off stump. The teenager showed perfect footwork which helped him to work the ball around with admirable ease.

Faisal Iqbal all but cemented his place at the pivotal one- down position with a gritty, watchful and composed 84 off 139 balls with 12 delightful boundaries. The youngster also showed flashes of his great uncle Javed Miandad while nudging and pushing the ball around.

© Dawn