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SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday (AFP) - Pakistan captain Waqar Younis said on Tuesday that seasoned players like Wasim Akram and Saeed Anwar may return to the side after missing the Australian series.

"I felt let down by their absence," Waqar said after his young team crashed to an innings defeat in the final Test against Steve Waugh's world champions to suffer a 3-0 whitewash.

"Wasim and Anwar said they were tired and needed rest, but with the World Cup so near, some of the older players may have to come back and we have to give them some cricket before that."

Akram, Pakistan's leading all-rounder with more than 400 wickets in both Test and one-day cricket, and opener Anwar opted out of the three Tests against Australia.

Worse, leading batsmen Inzamam-ul Haq and Yousuf Youhana missed the series due to injuries and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq broke his wrist during the second Test.

Pakistan will undertake twin tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa from next month ahead of the World Cup to be played in these two countries in February-March next year.

Waqar said he and coach Richard Pybus will return home later on Tuesday to meet Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Tauqir Zia and the selectors to discuss the defeat against Australia.

Asked if he agreed with a reported statement of the PCB chairman that Pakistan may soon have separate teams and captains for Tests and one-day cricket, Waqar said: "If it is good for the team I am happy."

He stressed that no tears should be shed for his boys which was blanked by Australia.

"It was a tough series against the best team in the world," Waqar said. "But I would not cry too much on it. We have to take the positives out of the series and build for the future.

"There have emerged some young players who are the future of Pakistan cricket and the experience of playing against Australia will have done them a world of good.

"I have faith in these youngsters and it was evident they need more cricket to match themselves against the best.

"Pakistan are capable of playing against any team, but playing against Australia was very tough."

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