Pakistan captain Waqai Younis made an apparent U-turn on Thursday by saying he wanted m team up with fellow pace howler Wasim Akram for the lest senes against England.

The newly appointed Waqar, who had suggested just before the tour that Wasim could struggle to make the starting eleven, said: ' Hopefully I'll open (the bowling) in the Test match with Wasim Akram.

“Of course. I want Wasim in the side. He’s a key man."

Waqar, who is part of the Pakistan selection panel, added he had made his peace with his rival after a feud two years ago, when he had accused former team captain Wasim of wrecking his career by plotting to keep him out of the side.

“We are friends, it's fine - what we had, we've put in (he past. Now we want to prove we are the best side, that we can beat any side in the world."

Before arriving in England. Waqar had said that Wasim, the only bowler in cricket history' to take more than 400 wickets in both Test and one-day cricket, could be overlooked in favour of young quick howlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami.

Akhtar, however, is still in Pakistan after failing a pre-tour medical, although he is expected to join his teammates at the weekend.