WASIM Akram brings his Pakistan team to Old Trafford, his second home, for their last World Cup warm-up game against his beloved Lancashire tomorrow.

And many good judges believe that five weeks on Sunday, Wasim will be crowning his career by lifting the World Cup - Pakistan, with their collection of brilliant young players like off-spin wizard Mushtaq Ahmed and new pace sensation Shoaib Akhtar, are regarded as the biggest threat to competition favourites Australia and South Africa.

Wasim, who will be 33 on June 3, has already starred in one Pakistan triumph, in 1992, when he was man of the match in the final against England in Melbourne, allowing his hero and mentor, Imran Khan, to lift the cup.

Now Wasim has taken over Imran's mantle as the elder statesman of Pakistan Cricket, returning for his third stint as captain despite the allegations of bribery and corruption which remain under investigation back at home. Those allegations came as a huge shock to everyone at Lancashire, as Wasim has been a hugely popular overseas player - and last year, captain - at Old Trafford since first signing in 1988.

He will certainly get a warm welcome back tomorrow despite the acrimony over his eventual departure, with Lancashire preferring to sign Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan this season.

Playing against Wasim in the middle, rather than the nets, will be a new challenge for the likes of Nathan Wood, Mark Chilton, Paddy McKeown and even Graham Lloyd, although skipper John Crawley has faced him in Test Matches. Similarly pacemen Peter Martin and Glen Chapple, who have learned so much from Wasim over the last few years, will relish this chance to impress him.

Lancashire have named their strongest available team for the game, missing only their England World Cup trio and the injured Mike Atherton, and are hopeful of attracting a big crowd to Old Trafford, weather permitting.

The weather was the winner at Old Trafford yesterday, as Scotland reached 161-3 in 38 overs against a young Lancashire attack before the match was abandoned.

Richard Green claimed an early wicket then faded, while tall Oldham seamer Mike Smethurst hardly bowled a bad ball in conceding seven runs from his five overs.

Gary Keedy was the pick of the Lancashire attack, taking 2-28 with his left arm spin, and Atherton teenager Jonathan Fearick was as quick as anyone on his senior debut.

Iain Philip, who at 40 will be the oldest player in the World Cup, and Mike Allingham each hit half centuries for Scotland, who play Yorkshire at Scarborough tomorrow in their last warm-up match before facing competition favourites Australia at Worcester on Saturday. Lancashire's second team started a four-day game against Yorkshire at Middleton today.

Lancashire (v Pakistan, tomorrow): Wood, Chilton, Crawley, Lloyd, McKeown, Wtkinson, Hegg, Chapple, Martin, Green, Smethurst.

Lancashire have sold out of tickets for the first World Cup match at Old Trafford this summer, the Group B game between Australia and West Indies on May 30. The semi-final on June 16 is also sold out, although Lancashire still have £36 and £60 tickets available for the Super Six match on June 8.

An LCB XI meet Yorkshire at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday and Wednesday May 11 and 12 in the ECB's two-day knockout competition. This follows on from their excellent victory over Cheshire last week. The two-day match will be an excellent workout prior to the NatWest Trophy second round fixture against Holland, at Liverpool on May 19. And there is a Roses Clash in the Second XI Championship. Lancashire entertain Yorkshire at home in the four-day Championship match also starting tomorrow. The fixture will be held at Middleton Cricket Club.

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