This will be the second time that the 24 year old Pakistani has appeared in county cricket, as he played for Surrey from 1990 until 1993 taking 232 championship wickets in three seasons with the London club. He was one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year in 1991, and during the 1992 series with England, Waqar took 22 wickets at 25 apiece, completely baffling many of England`s top order batsmen with his hostile quick bowling and reverse swing. Waqar suffered a severe back injury in 1993, but his recent performances with the Pakistani tourists suggest that he is back to his best.

Waqar's presence with Glamorgan in 1997 will be a huge fillip for the Welsh county - on the field, he will give great support to Steve Watkin and the young seamers on the Glamorgan staff, whilst off the field, the presence of the Pakistani pace ace will rekindle interest in Glamorgan and give a further lift to the club's membership that was boosted by the presence of Viv Richards and the Sunday League success in 1993.

Waqar said: "I was impressed with the way Glamorgan sold the Club to me. They seem a very ambitious club with some very good players and a clear idea of how I would fit into their plans. I am sure all they need is a catalyst to bring some success and hopefully I will be able to play my part in helping them achieve that. In addition to contributing to success on the field I also want to play my part off the field. I know just how much Viv Richards did for Glamorgan and if I can achieve the same in my two years in Wales I will be delighted."

Matthew Maynard, the Glamorgan captain said: "This is possibly the best signing Glamorgan has ever made. Waqar is a genuinely world class cricketer at the peak of his game and for us to be able to bring him to Glamorgan is fantastic news. When we heard he was keen to return to county cricket we showed an interest but we also knew there were several other sides going for him. I can't quite believe that he's coming to Wales. From a cricket point of view, he will be the perfect foil for Steve Watkin and add a whole new dimension to our side. I can't wait to see him wearing the yellow daffodil of Glamorgan. The members will love him."

Cricket Secretary Mike Watkin said: "Waqar's signing will invigorate Welsh cricket in all sorts of different ways and we hope he will make a similar impact to Viv Richards. The figures reported do not tell the whole story but although you have to pay a premium in order to attract a player of this calibre, we have not gone in with our eyes closed. There has been a lot of support, without which a coup of this sort would simply not have been possible. We see it very much as an investment - a statement of the ambition we have as a Club. We have recently made the purchase of Sophia Gardens as our headquarters ground, the new Cricket Board of Wales is generating interest in the grass roots of the game and we have tow players in the England team this week. We face an exciting era both on and off the field and Waqar's addition will give everyone in Wales a tremendous buzz."

          M    O      M     R     W    Ave     S/R   5I  10M
1990     14  422     70   1357   57   23.80   44.42   3   1
1991     17  570.1  109   1623  113   14.36   30.27  13   3
1993     13  449.4   89   1407   62   22.69   43.52   4   -