Imad Wasim Archives

Imad Wasim shares emotional note after Islamabad United pick

Former Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim penned down an emotional note after being selected by Islamabad United in the unsold category of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Player Auction held in Lahore on February 10.

Imad took to X, noting that Islamabad United has picked him in the auction to reignite his desire and prove his worth.

“One team believed, thank you Islamabad United,” he wrote.

“This auction has sparked a fire in me. I’ve always proved my worth, and I will do so again. Every run, every wicket, every game… I’ll show on the field why I was worth the pick. Watch closely — the reminder is coming,” he added.

Initially, Wasim remained unpicked in the opening round of released players with a base price of PKR 4.2 crore.

Later on, the three-time PSL champion United picked him from the list of unsold players for PKR 2.2 crore.

Wasim, 37, has been a regular in T20 leagues around the globe since hanging up his boots from international cricket in December 2024.

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He has captained Karachi Kings and led them to title glory in 2020 before joining his hometown franchise, Islamabad United, in 2023.

In total, he has played 101 matches in PSL and has amassed 1293 runs at a strike rate of 136.97 with the aid of seven fifties. Besides his batting, he has also picked up 77 wickets with the ball.

For the unversed, following the auction, all eight teams have stacked their squads ahead of the landmark season 11, which kicks off in March across five cities in Pakistan.

The change to the player selection model followed the expansion, which added two new franchises: Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen.

READ: Ahmed Shehzad burst into tears on live TV after PSL snub

Imad Wasim announces separation from his wife

Former Pakistan cricketer Imad Wasim on Sunday announced his separation from his wife, Sania Ashfaq, after months of conflict.

Imad shared the news on his Instagram handle, revealing the reason behind the decision.

“After much thought, and due to repeated conflicts that could not be resolved over the past few years, I have filed for divorce,” he wrote.

“I sincerely request everyone to respect our privacy and avoid using or sharing any old couple photos. Please also refrain from referring to her as my spouse going forward,” he added.

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He also urged the followers and fans not to engage in or believe any misleading narratives related to the matter and warned that any attempts to defame or involve others would be addressed through legal channels.

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“I request everyone not to engage in or believe any misleading narratives. Any attempt to defame or involve others in this personal matter will be addressed through the proper legal channels if necessary.”

“Regarding the children, I remain their father and will continue to care for them fully and responsibly. Thank you for your understanding and respect,” he concluded.

For the unversed, Imad Wasim and Sanif Ashfaq tied the knot in 2019. The couple has three children.

The all-rounder, who retired from international cricket in December 2024, is currently playing in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

READ: BBL 15: Haris Rauf shines as undefeated Stars crush Thunder

Amir, Imad and Naseem among seven players granted NOCs for franchise leagues

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has granted no-objection certificates (NOCs) to Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, and Naseem Shah to feature in the various franchise leagues.

The board announced the NOCs in a press release, confirming the issuance of NOCs to seven players for participation in franchise leagues around the globe.

The duo of Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim, who retired last December, have been issued NOCs to participate in The Hundred competition, currently underway in England.

Both players will represent Northern Superchargers in the ongoing season.

Amir and Imad, who are the first players from Pakistan this year to participate in The Hundred. They will replace Australian pacer Ben Dwarshius and New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner, both of whom are injured.

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Besides the duo, pacer Naseem Shah and Iftikhar Ahmed were also issued the NOCs to feature in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Additionally, Faheem Ashraf and Khusdil Shah have also been granted NOCs to feature in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025.

Sharjeel Khan, the southpaw who last played for Pakistan at the international level in 2021, received an NOC to take part in the Top End T20 Series in Australia.

List of players granted NOCs

Imad Wasim – The Hundred (7 Aug 2025-10 Aug 2025)

Mohammad Amir – The Hundred (7 Aug 2025-10 Aug 2025)

Sharjeel Khan – Top End T20 Series in Australia 2025 (15 Aug 2025-25 Aug 2025)

Mohammad Amir – CPL 2025 (15 Aug 2025-22 Sep 2025)

Naseem Shah – CPL 2025 (15 Aug 2025-22 Sep 2025)

Iftikhar Ahmed – CPL 2025 (14 Aug 2025-21 Sep 2025)

Khushdil Shah – BPL (1 Dec 2025-15 Jan 2026)

Faheem Ashraf – BPL (1 Dec 2025-15 Jan 2026)

READ: Babar Azam eyes major milestone during West Indies ODIs

Pakistan’s star players join Northern Superchargers for The Hundred 2025

LONDON: Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim have officially signed with the Northern Superchargers for the 2025 edition of The Hundred, becoming the first Pakistani players to secure deals for this year’s competition.

The experienced duo have been roped in as replacements for the Superchargers.

Amir comes in for Australian pacer Ben Dwarshuis, who has been ruled out of the entire season due to international commitments, while Imad will fill in for New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner, who is set to miss the first two matches.

Their signings come after months of uncertainty surrounding the participation of Pakistani players in The Hundred, especially under the league’s new ownership structure.

The Northern Superchargers, it is worth noting, will come under the operational control of India’s Sun Group starting October 1.

No Pakistani cricketer was picked during the players’ draft in March, sparking speculation that the growing influence of Indian stakeholders, who now hold ownership in six of the eight teams, might have played a role in their exclusion.

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However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) categorically denied any political or ownership-driven bias, maintaining that Pakistani players remained eligible for selection.

Cricket analysts attributed their absence more to scheduling conflicts than politics.

Pakistan’s white-ball tour of the West Indies, followed by a tri-series in the UAE, limited player availability during the draft window.

Additionally, the team’s recent T20I struggles and last year’s late pull-outs by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah reportedly affected their chances.

With Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim now in the mix, the Superchargers’ squad gets a significant boost.

READ: Rohail Nazir’s century, bowlers put Pakistan Shaheens in command on day two

Imad Wasim joins Pakistan Champions Squad ahead of WCL 2025

Former all-rounder Imad Wasim has been added to the Pakistan Champions squad for the second edition of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, set to be played from July 18 to August 2, 2025.

The announcement of Imad Wasim’s inclusion was made via social media handles.

“A power-packed addition to the squad. We proudly welcome Imad Wasim to Pakistan Champions, an all-rounder with grit, game, and presence,” the franchise wrote.

Imad Wasim, who announced his retirement from international cricket in 2024, is a regular in the T20 circuit around the globe. The left-hander has played 394 T20Is, along with featuring in 75 matches for Pakistan in the shortest format.

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Currently, Imad Wasim is representing Somerset in the T20 blast in England. The tournament will be on hold starting July 18 after the conclusion of the league stage.

The Pakistan Champions’ squad will also feature Sarfaraz Ahmed, the captain who led the team to victory in the Champions Trophy 2017.

For the unversed, the WCL 2025 will be contested across four English venues: Edgbaston (Birmingham), County Ground (Northampton), Grace Road (Leicester), and Headingley (Leeds).

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Six teams, India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies, will face off in a round-robin format, with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.

The upcoming edition marks the second installment of the WCL, following the inaugural tournament held in 2024, where the Indian team, led by the legendary Yuvraj Singh, emerged as champions.

During the inaugural season, Younis Khan-led Pakistan were among the standout teams, producing dominant performances throughout the group stage.

They opened their campaign with a clinical win over Australia before thrashing the West Indies.

One of the tournament’s most iconic moments came in their clash against India, where Pakistan racked up a mammoth 243/4 and then restricted their arch-rivals to 175/9.

Their only group-stage defeat came against South Africa, but the Men in Green bounced back strong, sealing a semi-final win against the West Indies by 20 runs to set up a high-stakes final against India.

Despite a spirited effort, Pakistan Champions fell just short in the final. After setting a target of 157, they couldn’t prevent India from chasing it down with five wickets and five balls to spare.

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They’ll silence the critics: Imad Wasim backs Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan

Former Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim has thrown his support behind the experienced duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, stating that they will prove everyone wrong if they adjust their approach to playing T20 cricket.

While speaking on a sports platform, Imad commented on Pakistan’s new white-ball head coach’s approach to playing modern-day cricket.

“Simple is that — that should be the message and if they are willing to change it, if they want to play happy for them because they are such big players such big names for Pakistan and fans because people want to see them play like this and I am specifically talking about T20 cricket,” Imad said when asked about Babar Azam’s and Mohammad Rizwan place in T20I team.

Imad Wasim clarified the earlier criticism of Babar Azam’s place in the Pakistan team.

He further emphasised that both players need to reflect on their approach in T20 cricket while believing in their ability to bounce back in the shorter format.

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“I am not talking about ODI or Test cricket because in ODI cricket Babar has got the best record in the world he will never be dropped to be honest and even in Test cricket so no question about Babar’s performance like it’s 50-over format you need some players to play like that and Babar does it better than anyone else in the world so One-Day cricket is totally different,” he explained.

“But T20 I am talking about, I think they need to reflect if they want to play T20 cricket and I know they can play and hopefully they will turn up and prove everybody wrong and I should be the one who will praise them,” Imad Wasim. concluded.

It is noteworthy to mention that former Pakistan captain Babar Azam last played a T20I in December 2023. Since then, he has missed both the home series against New Zealand in March and the ongoing three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, which began on May 28 in Lahore.

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Imad Wasim backs Mike Hesson’s appointment as white-ball head coach

Former Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim has thrown his weight behind the appointment of Mike Hesson as the national team’s new head coach, terming it a “positive step” for the development of white-ball cricket in the country.

In a recent interview on a local sports platform, the 36-year-old expressed hope that Hesson’s arrival would bring the much-needed consistency and structure to Pakistan’s limited-overs setup.

“Mike Hesson understands the game really well. I have spoken to him about cricket, and he looks to be a very good coach. Let’s see what happens,” he stated.

The former all-rounder also stressed the importance of having a clear and defined strategy in modern-day cricket.

“There is a difference between recklessness, stupidity and fearlessness. There is a fine line among these, and you cannot cross it,” he further added.

“You cannot go crazy, even England has a criterion on how they go about, especially with T20 cricket.”

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While acknowledging Hesson’s credentials, Imad Wasim underlined what he believes will be the toughest part of the job, dealing with the off-field drama that often surrounds Pakistan cricket.

“I still believe that if you give them time, like four to six months or three to four series, then it could work. I want to see Pakistan playing good cricket, and we will see how it goes,” he concluded.

Notably, Pakistan made a strong start under the leadership of Mike Hesson, defeating Bangladesh by 37 runs in the opening T20I of the ongoing three-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

The Green Shirts posted 201-7 while batting first before folding Bangladesh for a meagre 164 to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

The second T20I will be played later today at the same venue, while the final match of the series will be played on 1 June.

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‘I’ve done it too’: Imad Wasim on Sikandar Raza’s last-minute arrival in PSL final

Imad Wasim, the former Pakistan all-rounder, has shared his thoughts on the arrival of Sikandar Raza just before the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

All-rounder Raza arrived just ten minutes before the toss and was rushed to the stadium.

A day earlier, he was trying to prevent an innings defeat in the Test match for Zimbabwe against England at Trent Bridge. He scored 60 off 68 balls before getting out, resulting in his team’s defeat.

Within a few hours, he got on a plane to Lahore, where his team, the Lahore Qalandars, were playing the final match of the PSL against the Quetta Gladiators.

Lahore Qalandars had two team lists ready: one with him playing and another with Shakib al Hasan in case he didn’t arrive on time.

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The inclusion of Raza in the Playing XI helped Lahore Qalandars as he played a match-winning knock, scoring 22 off just seven balls. His heroics helped Qalandars in clinching third PSL title in last four seasons

Speaking on the post-match PSL review show, Imad Wasim reflected on the journey of Sikandar Raza while hailing him as a team man.

“If you’re getting paid, you’ll go. I travel a lot too. Sometimes, one match ends, and the next day you’re playing another.

I’ve traveled 24 hours as well and straight away played on the ground. So yes, money can make different things happen,” Imad said.

Imad also hailed Raza’s abilities, stating that he is a true match-winner for the past few years.

“Sikandar Raza has been a great player for a couple of years now. A great human being and a proper team man. You can call him a match-winner because of his performances in the last couple of years,” he concluded.

READ: Wasim Akram backs THIS legend as Pakistan’s red-ball batting coach

Here’s what inspired Imad Wasim’s viral PSL 10 celebrations

Islamabad United all-rounder Imad Wasim has shed light on the inspiration behind his now-trademark wicket celebrations during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10.

Speaking in an interview with PSL’s official YouTube channel, the 36-year-old revealed that his celebrations aren’t spontaneous but are actually choreographed in advance, and rooted in PlayStation FIFA sessions shared with teammates and support staff.

“Our celebrations are actually planned in advance with the whole team, including the management,” Imad revealed.

“We spend a lot of our downtime playing FIFA together, so I should clarify, these aren’t random acts. Each player has their own celebration this season, and I’ve chosen to pay tribute to footballers Mohamed Salah and Kylian Mbappé.”

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The veteran left-arm spinner emphasised that these antics are all part of a larger effort to strengthen the team culture.

“Before each match, we decide as a group which celebration I’ll use if I take wickets. It’s all part of our team bonding and having fun with our performances,” he added.

While the celebrations have caught fans’ attention, Imad Wasim has backed it up with quality performances on the field, grabbing six wickets in three matches, including a standout 3/26.

Islamabad skipper Shadab Khan, who was also present during the chat, expressed satisfaction with the team’s strong start to the tournament.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

Shadab reserved special praise for West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder, calling him a “proven match-winner” and one of the most vital assets in United’s campaign so far.

“When we sign overseas cricketers, we do extensive analysis of their stats and suitability,” Shadab said.

“Holder has performed extraordinarily and justified his selection; his experience and hunger have been evident in every game. He’s bowling with real intensity, and that’s exactly what we need.”

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Imad Wasim questions Babar Azam’s promotion to ODI opening slot

Former Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim has raised concerns over the decision to push Babar Azam up the order in ODIs, questioning whether the country is truly lacking specialist openers.

Babar, who has been struggling to regain his best form, hasn’t scored a century since August 2023, when he smashed 151 against Nepal. His performances have come under intense scrutiny, especially after Pakistan’s disappointing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign.

Ahead of the tournament, Pakistan’s management experimented with Babar as an opener in the tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, where he could only manage 10, 23, and 29.

Despite those underwhelming numbers, he retained the role in the Champions Trophy but failed to make a significant impact, scoring 64 and 23 against New Zealand and India, respectively.

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This move hasn’t gone down well with many former cricketers, and Imad Wasim has now joined the list of critics questioning the logic behind it.

“Nobody has achieved what Babar has in ODI cricket so far,” Imad said. “You had a player who could bat for 40 overs and was doing great at No. 3, so why would you suddenly make him open?”

He further pointed out that Pakistan has historically produced quality openers, making it baffling why the management felt the need to alter Babar’s role.

“Don’t we have any other opener in the whole country?” Imad asked. “Sometimes, I fail to understand the logic behind some of these decisions. We are not moving in the right direction; in fact, we are going backwards.”

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