Friday, March 1, 2002 It has been a sobering week for old warhorses. Allan Donald packed away his lightning, then Pakistan dropped Wasim Akram when his back was turned. Logic has never been a virtue of Pakistan's selectors, a whimsical breed fond of grand gestures. And gestures don't come more thunderous than two-fingering the leading wicket-taker in the history of international cricket (combining Tests and one-dayers).

Two milestones motivate Wasim. He is after Kapil Dev's Test tally of 434 wickets, and Pakistan's fans and administrators support his pursuit - despite his unexpected foray into cross-border diplomacy, old rivalries die hard. But it would be a pyrrhic victory if Wasim limped over the line as lifeless as a Lahori carthorse. Kapil did much the same in 1994 and lost some of his aura.

Second on Wasim's wish list is another shot at the World Cup. Bitter memories haunt him. Pakistan's embarrassments in the last two tournaments came about, say Wasim's critics, because he sold his soul at the altar of greed. Yet a decade ago, Wasim was champion of the world, a prince among cornered tigers. The World Cup made him a legend and then it ruined his honour.

Pakistan's cricket board had bought into Wasim's mission, it seemed. After recovering from injury he was rushed off to Sharjah. There was no concern over form or fitness then because Wasim had displayed neither. All of a sudden, he has been pushed down the queue behind Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Zahid. What has changed?

Wasim was dropped because of his form. Waqar Younis confirmed he can win back his place once he is back to his best, exactly the kind of comment Wasim used to love making when the captain's boot was on the other's foot. Creaky joints were not an issue at the outset. But the selectors retreated and later said Wasim's omission was a question of fitness not form. Curious, because they selected Mohammad Zahid despite fitness worries. One rule for Zahid and another rule for Wasim - it is clear who is yesterday's man.

There was a time when Wasim's thunder was indispensable. But Waqar's Pakistan have shown that life claps on without him. Allan Donald faced this same dilemma: once you cease to be effective you cease to be relevant. Pakistan fans always wished the best for Wasim, prince to Imran's king, but the magic of a balmy Melbourne night in 1992 was too enchanting to be repeated. Wasim was great; he could have been greater. In a year, perhaps sooner, his career will be a memory. Will he fade away or burn brightly for an encore? Once lightning has passed, we know that thunder follows soon after.

Kamran Abbasi, born in Lahore, brought up in Rotherham, is assistant editor of the British Medical Journal. His Asian View appears on Wisden.com every Friday.

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