DUBAI - Waqar Younis, who was inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame earlier in the week, received his commemorative cap from ICC Chief Executive David Richardson in Dubai on Wednesday night.
The former Pakistan fast bowler said that the fact that he was conferred the honour in the same country where he grew up and where he made his international debut made it even more special.
Waqar became the first of four inductees into the Hall of Fame for the 2013-14 season, when he was honoured before the start of the first Twenty20 International between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The former Pakistan captain, who took 373 Test wickets between 1989 and 2003, became the 70th male Hall of Fame member and fifth Pakistani after Hanif Mohammad, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram.
Speaking to Gulf News afterwards, the 42-year-old said: “It feels great as I have very close affection to this country.
Not only have I played cricket here, but I also lived here as a child and watched some of the greats play the game in Sharjah. So it satisfies me more when I get into the Hall of Fame while I am in this part of the world.