Supporters of Viv Richards might disagree but the Pakistan fast bowler has already rekindled interest throughout the Principality, while his presence - much as that of Richards when he signed for the Welsh county - is sure to inspire Glamorgan's fortunes.
Although not available for the opening championship game against Warwickshire because of international commitments - no Waqar-Allan Donald confrontation at Sophia Gardens - he hopes to arrive to play in two Benson and Hedges Cup zonal games.
Glamorgan's other major signing, new coach Duncan Fletcher from Western Province, arrived last week. Fletcher, a former Zimbabwe captain, was approached by the county when he coached South Africa A here last summer and agreed ``to fulfil an ambition with a county and experience an English season.''
Fletcher is delighted to have Waqar on board to share a potent new-ball attack with Steve Watkin, who has spearheaded Glamorgan's pace attack almost single-handedly for several seasons.
Watkin, who is an outstanding bowler in English conditions and is eager to regain his place in the Test side, will certainly benefit from having Waqar at the other end, while Owen Parkin, a young pace bowler of considerable promise, complements a highly-rated seam attack.
Glamorgan's failure to win more games has often stemmed from their inability to knock over the opposing tail, but Waqar's lethal in- swinging yorkers should reverse the trend and also ensure that his county improve on last season's bowling figures where they ended with fewer points than anyone.
They should also improve on last summer's six championship wins and make an impact on the one-day competitions, where they should prosper through the combined talents of Waqar, Watkin and Robert Croft.
The off-spinner was Glamorgan's leading wicket taker with 76 victims last season, but his success with England during the winter is sure to earn him further recognition against the touring Australians and also restrict his appearances for Glamorgan.
However, Croft's absence will enable Dean Cosker, 19, a left-arm spinner who made an immediate impression last year with a six-wicket haul in his first championship game, to consolidate further following a successful winter tour to Pakistan with the England under-19 team.
Gareth Edwards, another former England under-19 off-spinner, could be given an opportunity in Croft's absence when he starts a summer contract following university studies.
The Glamorgan attack will be balanced by Adrian Dale and Darren Thomas, whose genuine pace is undermined by a lack of control, reflected in last season's figures of 22 wickets at 58.75.
There should be no shortage of runs if Glamorgan's batsmen can emulate the feats of last season when Hugh Morris, Maynard, Steve James and Tony Cottey all exceeded 1,500 runs and shared 23 centuries.
Another productive summer from James, whose runs aggregate last year was exceeded only by Graham Gooch, could alert the England selectors, while the utterly dependable Morris requires only a hundred against Surrey to record a championship century against every county.
Maynard's batting did not suffer from the added responsibility of leading the county for the first time, and there is no reason why the captain - one of the best strikers and entertainers in the game - should not accumulate heavily again this summer.
Cottey's consistency - an average of 48.30 over the past five seasons - allied to his brilliant fielding, will also not have gone unnoticed by the selectors.
Glamorgan were disapointed with David Hemp's decision to join Warwickshire, but Dale now has the opportunity to establish himself as the team's No 3 after batting for a couple of seasons anywhere between opener and No 6.
Among the younger players Gary Butcher, who scored four championship fifties and took seven wickets in an innings against Gloucestershire last year, should develop further; Alun Evans is a young batsman of considerable promise, while Adrian Shaw - an inferior wicket-keeper but a better batsman - will again challenge Colin Metson.
The club's plans to transform Sophia Gardens into a national cricket ground for Wales were recently given a boost when they were awarded a £2.5 million grant to start work next year on a new cricket academy.