Q: Do you think the Australian tour was more vital for your career? You were dropped and later included in the side after a rookie fast bowler, picked up for the tour was ruled out for his action?
A: Yes. It was a crucial point of my career because before that I was not getting a single opportunity. I was first shown the door and then I became the 12th man. Basically because I didn't play in any game and I wasn't getting any tour matches either. For certain reasons, which I do not want to discuss now. But when we reached Adelaide for a tour match, nobody wanted to play that match because the wicket was absolutely flat. I took the opportunity and bowled well. I think that was the turning point for me.

Q: What does it take for a bowler of your class to survive?
A: It's not easy because I have gone through a lot of injuries and not only that I had to go through hard times. Especially after the kind of performances I have put up, the kind of times I have seen on the field, like taking wickets and bowling so well and in the end I think I was treated badly at certain times which was unfair to me. But I'm a strong guy and I like to take challenges.

Q: Do you think the contemporarary batsmen are not too fond of playing pace bowling, hence the hue and cry over a Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee's action is an outcome of that?
A: Probably, because I don't see anything wrong with their action. Actually, there is no law as such to bring it down. But I think people have been bowling at that pace like I have bowled at that pace before. People like Dennis Lillee, Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, and Michael Holding... there were so many fast bowlers, who have probably touched more then 90 miles an hour. It is a modern day psyche that they just don't want to face the quickies. Basically cricket is all about fast bowling. If there is no fast bowler then there is not much glamour left in the game.

Q: In the present situation, how do you motivate yourself? Given the fact that a new crop of fast bowlers have come up in Pakistan?
A: It doesn't really scare me that so many fast bowlers are coming up. But as you have seen I have cut down a bit of my pace especially in the one-dayers. I have started bowling more with my mind then pace because one-day is all about deceiving the bat.

Q: You are just one short of 300 wickets in one-dayers and when you reach there you will be the second to do so after Wasim Akram. You are nearing 300 in Tests also. Don't you think it has taken you a long time to reach there?
A: I should have got it much earlier but there are certain reasons, which kept me away from getting it.

Q: Is Waqar Younis a rebel at heart?
A: I always love to fight for my rights, because giving up is the act of a coward. I'll never give up till I can play and run in and bowl better then anybody. Till I feel that I can fit in the 11, I will fight for my right.