Saeed Anwar to retire after 2003 Cup
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

LAHORE, JUNE 7: Pakistan's Saeed Anwar, one of the most prolific scorers in one day international cricket, plans to retire from the game after the 2003 World Cup, a press report said today. "I want to bid farewell to cricket after the World Cup" in 2003 in South Africa and "After that I am thinking of becoming a commentator for a television network," the Bhorer Kagoj daily quoted him as saying.

Anwar (32) will play his 200th one-day innings today in the finals of the Asia Cup tournament here against Sri Lanka. Anwar said although he had not hit any big score so far in the tournament he was hoping to rediscover his form against defending champions Sri Lanka. He however did make 80 in the final.

Referring to his knee injury and subsequent operation, he said that he was "100 per cent fit," but added he still had to take pain killers at the 20-25 run mark. "It (the injury) was a blessing in disguise. It seems tome a second life. I feel I have two to three years cricket left in me and I want to enjoy the game during the rest of my career," said Anwar, who made his international debut in 1988 against Australia.

When asked about his future goals in the game, the batsman, with 7,158 one day international runs to his name, said: "I don't think about cricket the way you all are thinking. I now play cricket only for self-satisfaction, not for scoring any record."

"I want to enjoy cricket as much as possible and to offer the crowd a good game." Anwar also offered some observations on arch rivals India who bowed out of the tournament after losing to Pakistan on Saturday.

The team have many class batsmen, he said, but "their result is not that good because they lacked quality bowlers. Technique, talent and hardwork are the keys behind success for a cricketer. But to be at the top, you need the mental toughness."

"If you don't have that at the highest level, you are (a) nobody," Anwar added.