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Ten years after the 1992 World Cup glory, Pakistan cricket captain Waqar Younis still regrets missing the opportunity of being part of the world beating team.

The charismatic fast bowler, now in the twilight of an illustrious career, nevertheless, feels that irrespective of his personal disappointment the best thing happened to Pakistan cricket.

"I was absolutely ecstatic on March 25 when Pakistan won the World Cup. At that stage, I nearly forgot that I was not part of the team. But as things settled down, the pain of not being part of history increased," Waqar said.

"The victory brought the people together. We were hailed as world champions and that proud feeling is still very fresh in my memories."

Waqar, at the peak of his powers, had to pull out because of stress fracture in his back, a week before the commencement of the tournament.

He was Saturday awarded by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for his best One-day International bowling performance (seven for 35) besides being the only Pakistani to take five wickets or more 12 times in one-dayers.

Waqar's ambitions of getting into history were dashed in 1996 when Pakistan lost to India at Bangalore in the quarterfinals. He was not picked in the playing XI in 1999 when Australia won a lop-sided final at Lord's.

"Next year's World Cup is now just 11 months away and though a lot of cricket has to be played until then, I would like to add World Cup title to my name. "I think the tournament in South Africa will be a perfect platform for the senior guys to win and finish it off," he said.

Waqar said as far as he was concerned, the countdown for World Cup has started. He said every move the Pakistan team management makes from now on, will be a step closer to regaining the title.

"We have the players who are proven performers and match-winners. It is just a matter of putting them together. I have high hopes from them (players) as I am aware of their World Cup hunger.

"Most of the players have still not digested the 1999 defeat in final. In fact, that defeat broke their hearts. Now they are targeting the title again. "It would not be incorrect to say that they are determined to turn back the clock," he said referring to Imran Khan's team defeat in the 1987 World Cup semi-final.

Imran's 'cornered tigers', five years later, won five matches on a trot to win the World Cup. "We have to show the same determination, commitment and zest like Imran Khan's team to regain the lost glory. I promise it's not difficult as I know the public, PCB and the media are as keen as we are. It's just a matter of clicking at the right time and going into the tournament with some encouraging performances behind us," he said.

Pakistan are to play nearly 30 One-day Internationals and 10 Tests before the World Cup opens Feb 9. Pakistan open their campaign two days later against reigning champions Australia at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. But in the meantime, Pakistan face a hectic schedule from now until the World Cup gets under way. Pakistan are scheduled to play Tests against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, the last two undoubtedly the best Test teams.

"I understand that the two series' are extremely difficult. But you should also consider that if we put up a good performance, which we are capable of, the confidence of the players would go sky high," Waqar said.

Waqar earlier this week was retained the captaincy for the home series against New Zealand. The chairman of the PCB Lt Gen Tauqir Zia said he was foreseeing Waqar captaining the team in the World Cup but stressed appointment would only be made on series-by-series basis.

© Dawn