ISLAMABADA, Reuter: Imran Khan finally bowed to the appeals of his fans on Monday and agreed to lead Pakistan on the forthcoming tour of West Indies.

But it took a personal appeal from President Mohammad ZiaulHaqata ceremony in Rawalpindi to lure the idol of Pakistani cricket out of retirement.

“I am willing to serve Pakistan come what may and will try my best to see Pakistan win in the West Indies also,” he was quoted,

The 35yearold all-rounder retired from international cricket after the World Cup in November after leading his side to test series wins in England and India earlier in the year.

The all all-rounder with the film star 200d looks said he wanted to quit while he was at his peak rather than lose his popularity and place in history by playing on past his prime.

But he yielded when Zia called on him to put the interests of his country first and lead the team on the West Indies tour, beginning on March 6.

Imran, an inspirational figure, was in superb form for much of 1987, but the year ended in deep disappointment when Pakistan failed to win the World Cup, staged jointly here and in neighboring India,

With Imran’s cricketing future now settled for the time being, Pakistani newspapers are free to concentrate on speculating about his wedding plans. The pinup of half the teenage girls of the subcontinent is regularly paired off with eligible brides by the local press,

LAUSANNE Switzerland: Four more countries including Soviet allies Vietnam and Czechoslovakia have accepted invitations to attend the 1988 Summer Olympics games in Seoul, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Friday.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 22, 1988