Wasim Akram has confirmed that he will retire after next year's World Cup. He had indicated earlier in the year that he would probably step down after the tournament. Akram, 36, broke the news at a press conference in Colombo. "The World cup will be my last tournament," he said. "There is a right time for everything and I think that will be the right time to go. I have had ups and downs, my career has been a roller coaster ride but it has all been worth it and I've had a ball."

Akram made his debut for Pakistan in 1984 and has made 104 Test and 342 one-day appearances, taking 414 Test wickets at 23.62 each and 478 ODI wickets at 23.78 each, the only player in the world to pass 400 in both forms of the game.

"I've no idea what I am going to do afterwards," he said. "I am not the kind of guy that plans things. I will take six months off sleeping, watching cricket and spending time with my family. I'm not the coaching sort – you have to be very organised and always be planning ahead – but I obviously I want to help cricket, promoting the game around the world."

And another Pakistan stalwart, Saeed Anwar, also dropped hints that he too was about to retire. Unlike Akram, Anwar has been struggling to keep his place in the side and he indicated that unless he performs well in the ICC Champions Trophy he might pack in. "This ICC trophy could be the turning point of my life," he said.. "I will see how it goes and then decide on my future. I have played cricket with dignity and respect, always performing at the highest level. I still have the zest for cricket but don't want to hang around if I am not performing."

But unlike many of his contemporaries, Anwar said that he had no intention of remaining in the game after he stops playing. "I won't hang around the game, not as a commentator, not as an umpire or coach."

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