Wasim brings his soul to county party

The overseas debate: Pakistan's veteran promises to deliver on development but others offer less to English game

Wasim Akram owes English cricket nothing. If ever a body is established for the protection of the overseas county professional he will probably make the short list for the job as model example.

During a decade for Lancashire, with occasional inter-ruptions for Pakistan tours and injury, Wasim provided the two essential ingredients of the role: results and star quality. It is presumably why Hampshire have recruited him this summer.

He was contacted when Shane Warne was forced to withdraw after being banned for failing a random drugs test. At the county's pre-season press day, all the attention was on Wasim, all the charisma built up over 20 years of bowling in international cricket was evident.

Yet he is 37 in June, it is 16 months since he last wore whites to play cricket and the feeling cannot be entirely eradicated that charisma alone will not do. Will he feel like dragging his body to the ground for another day's cricket on a cold, dank Thursday in Derby (a probability which is actually scheduled for late September)?

"That's a question I have asked myself as well over the last week or two," he said. "But if you are in a team doing well that's what gives you the incentive to wake up in the morning and go and play. That's what I want to do out there, make sure we do very well in the first two or three weeks, then that will motivate me to come and play."

This will be Wasim's final fling and it is clear that he intends to go out swinging. The way he sees it, he will have much more to offer than bowling (and batting, of course, though he never did quite develop into the all-rounder he might have done).

"Generally, I can't bowl 35 overs a day. But there is another role that the coach and the captain here want me to play. They want me to be with the team just to help them. If some youngster is bowling and I'm standing at mid-off I shall let him know about the weaknesses of the batsman.

"I shall have a chat with them while we're playing, that's what helped me as a youngster. With a lot of bowlers, almost every second ball you can ask what he's trying to do, whether he should be bowling outswing or inswing, where he should have a particular fielder, all those little details."

Throughout Wasim's career at Lancashire, he was one of the best fast bowlers in the world – perhaps the best left-arm fast bowler of all time – and his international partnership with Waqar Younis was among the most potent of all. He eventually became a controversial Pakistan captain and has never explained convincingly his alleged dealings with illegal bookmakers to influence the course of some one-day matches.

But his popularity has not diminished and he has never shirked club duties. It was sometimes said that he was a fitful performer, hardly suited to the daily grind, yet he took 374 wickets in his 91 Championship matches for Lancashire at 21.65 each and another 163 in 106 Sunday league games at a mere 19.47. If those figures reflect more thoroughbred than work-horse, they also show that when he played he was not simply turning up. In his final season, his only one as captain, Lancashire won two one-day trophies and were second in the Championship, and have not had it so good since.

He is aware of what is expected of him. He has been recruited by Hampshire to help propel them to the first division of the Championship and to lure spectators into the captivating Rose Bowl ground in Southampton.

But he also intends to play his part in the new form of instant cricket, 20Twenty. "I've always enjoyed the shorter form of the game and it's the best way to promote the sport to younger kids. The prize money is quite good and we shall be taking it seriously."

Wasim has never been slow to appreciate his responsibilities. "Obviously, I will have the occasional rest and get some youngsters chipping in. But at the beginning I'm going to try to play every game and see how we go, and then it will depend."

He declined the county captaincy, offered him as part of the package. He genuinely felt that he did not know the players well enough, either as cricketers or characters. The job eventually went to John Crawley, a former colleague at Lancashire. Crawley can expect plenty of advice. "He's a better choice but I can help him in any capacity," said Wasim. "I'll be telling him things on the field and off the field and I know he's a man who listens."

It seems certain that this is a one-season only appointment, that Wasim will not be back for more. His intention is to return to Pakistan, formally announce his retirement and become a television commentator. Yet he has not entirely given up on adding to his international hauls of 414 wickets in Tests and 502 in one-dayers: "You can't rule anything out in Pakistan." Pakistan were pretty wretched in the recent World Cup but Wasim was occasionally as unplayable as in days of yore.

He has almost wholly eschewed reverse swing – with which he established his fearsome reputation – for a more conventional kind. "Ten years ago I used to hate bowling with the new ball. Now I prefer it."

The indications are that Wasim Akram, a truly great cricketer, means business for Hampshire. If he succeeds, he will help not only to restore the county but the reputation of the overseas player.

The passport game Six from elsewhere who are making the most of the system

Gerard Brophy Northamptonshire
Has captained Free State in South Africa, where he was born and educated. Brophy was an accomplished schoolboy wicketkeeper-batsman but has never made a significant breakthrough. He played only four games as a batsman for the county last season but will continue to apply pressure to the place of the regular wicketkeeper, Toby Bailey. He is 27 and not yet qualified to play for England.

Neil Carter Warwickshire
Achieved fleeting fame with his sweep for a winning four from the last ball of the B & H semi-final last summer. The other figures for the South African-born and raised, British passport-holding left-armer are less auspicious. His 20 Championship wickets last summer cost more than 47 runs each, and at 28 he is unlikely to command a four-day place. Has no international future, but does have a pay packet.

Andrew Gait Derbyshire
Born in Zimbabwe, educated in South Africa, signed last season as British passport- holder. His performances were serviceable, but an average of 30 hardly bespoke a rare talent. Gait is only 24 so has time on his side to develop his game, but while he is doing that he is undoubtedly preventing a home-bred player from having the opportunity. By the time he has qualified it will be too late.

Mark Harrity Worcestershire
Signed by his compatriot and county coach, Tom Moody, Harrity undoubtedly has pace. He has spent the last nine seasons showing it for South Australia. Having a UK passport and having forsaken any hope of a place in the Australian side, he will lend a cutting edge to the attack. Trouble is, Australian pre-eminence tends to be a given, although Harrity has taken 197 first-class wickets at an expensive 37.37 each.

Craig Spearman Gloucestershire
Nobody questions his ability, but he had played 19 Tests and 51 one-day internationals for New Zealand by the time he rediscovered his English roots. He scored five hundreds in his first summer and will have to do likewise to justify the outlay. He will be 31 in July, and it is easy to think he is extending his career to the disadvantage of someone with immediate West Country connections and England aspirations.

Greg Smith Nottinghamshire
His first experience of English senior cricket was when he arrived with South Africa A in 1996. He was almost 30 when Clive Rice spotted the UK passport credentials. Smith is an excellent seam bowler, following his 50 wickets in 2001 with 48 last summer, but it is doubtful that he would have been deemed capable enough as an out-and-out overseas player.