Islamabad: In a sudden volte-face, veteran left-arm seamer Wasim Akram has said he will not quit international cricket in the "best national interest" as the team needs senior players who can "lift its morale". After vouching to hang his boots and formally announce his retirement once he reached home after his team's ignominious exit from the World Cup, Akram said he had no intention of retiring now. "Cricket is not finished in me and I have no intention of quitting the international scene, particularly when the team is in a bad shape after being dumped out from the World Cup," he told reporters on his arrival at the Lahore airport late on Friday. Accompanying Akram on the same flight were Inzamam-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Saleem Elahi and team manager Shahryar Khan. "I believe that the team needs senior players who could lift its morale. That's why I have decided to change my mind in the best national interest," he said. Akram said the continuous change in the batting order blocked the formation of a team combination and added "if our batting had clicked, the results could have been different." He declined to answer when asked whether the results would have been different had he been the skipper. The former captain and one of the world's greatest fast bowlers said defeat and victory was part of the game. "The nation should not get emotional at the defeat and should realise that teams like the West Indies, England and South Africa is also out of the World Cup." Akram admitted that the team's poor performance must have disappointed a large number of fans but asserted that the boys too were dejected and felt sorry about the whole thing. "We worked very hard for the World Cup but even then we lost," he said. All-rounder Razzaq said Pakistan had a good chance to win the World Cup but "we failed to convert the team into a winning combination." Team Manager Shaharyar Khan, regretting the performance of Pakistan team in the first round of the World Cup, said, "The boys worked hard but the World Cup was beyond our fate." He claimed that the discipline of the team remained excellent throughout the first round and dismissed the brawl between Inzamam and Younis Khan as a minor incident which happens on a football field. Shaharyar, however, said he will mention the incident and the overall performance of the team in his report to the Board. Earlier, the players reached Lahore amid strict security arrangements. First Saleem Elahi appeared in the arrival lounge to observe the mood of the people present at the airport and it was only then that Akram, Inzamam, Razzaq came out of the lounge escorted by police personnel. Extras:
Pakistani players returning home amidst heavy security

Tags: cricket, wasim akram, inzamam-ul-haq, abdul razzaq, saleem elahi, pakistan team manager shahryar khan.