Tag: Imad Wasim

FLORIDA: Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim took responsibility for the failed run-chase against India in a blockbuster ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 clash.

Imad, while addressing the pre-match press conference ahead of Pakistan’s last fixture against Ireland, talked about what went wrong for the Green Shirts against fierce rivals.

India set Pakistan to chase 120 on a tricky Nassau County International Cricket Stadium surface. The Green Shirts had a decent start to the pursuit but ended up losing the match by six runs.

Imad Wasim came out to bat when Pakistan were 73/3 in 12.2 overs, needing a further 47 runs off 46 deliveries.

The all-rounder revealed that the plan was to take the run-chase against India deeper but he could not execute the plans properly.

“Our game plan [against India] was to take the chase deep. The wicket was tough to bat on. I let the team down because usually when I go in these situations, I stay very calm and finish the job,” stated Imad.

“Finishing this chase was my job which I couldn’t do, and I am very hurt by that. But this is life, sometimes you make mistakes. I believe my planning was right but the execution wasn’t good,” he added.

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He then went on to opine that Pakistan are left way behind the other teams in terms of mindset.

“In my opinion, the reason for our defeat [In the World Cup] was our mindset. We need to take the fear of failure out of our minds and try something new. It is all about mindset, other teams have also changed their thinking, we are behind them because we didn’t change our way of thinking,” he added.

In response to a question regarding the need for major changes in the team, Imad Wasim said it was not his domain but “drastic” changes are required right now.

“It’s not my domain but I think there need to be changes. There should be a drastic change so that we can move forward and fight with world cricket in the way that cricket is played now,” Imad concluded.

READ: Ross Taylor reveals reason behind Pakistan’s early T20 World Cup exit

NEW YORK: Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten shared that all-rounder Imad Wasim is fit and available for the team’s blockbuster T20 World Cup 2024 clash against arch-rivals India, scheduled on June 9.

Kirsten addressed the pre-match conference on the eve of the highly-anticipated fixture between arch-rivals Pakistan and India and confirmed Imad Wasim’s availability for the big game. He also expressed his hope for a turnaround for the Green Shirts in the tournament.

“Imad Wasim will be available for the match against India,” Kirsten confirmed.

“We will make a comeback in tomorrow’s match hopefully. I don’t like to dwell on the past, we will forget the previous loss [against the USA] and focus on the match [against India] and play excellent cricket,” he added.

Kirsten then discussed the nature of the T20s and emphasized the need to improve decision-making to excel in the format.

Just like Indian captain Rohit Sharma, Gary Kirsten asserted that playing a couple of games at a venue would not benefit a team.

“Things change quickly in T20s, we have to move the decision-making,” Kirsten said. “Nobody gets an advantage if a team plays two or four more games here.”

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Kirsten then went on to share that Pakistan’s Playing XI has not been finalized as of yet as the management is analyzing a few players’ fitness.

“We are looking at the fitness of a couple of players so the playing XI has not been decided yet. The players know about [the game of] one another, we will have to play our best game according to the conditions.”

For the unversed, Pakistan and India will lock horns for the eighth time in a T20 World Cup when they square off at the newly-built Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on June 9.

Out of seven matches played thus far between the arch-rivals, India emerged victorious six times while Pakistan tasted triumph only once.

The two teams boast contrasting momentums as India eased past Ireland by eight wickets in the campaign opener while Pakistan succumbed to a humiliating defeat against the USA.

Pakistan squad for T20 World Cup 2024

Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Usman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub.

India squad for T20 World Cup 2024

Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya (vc), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

READ: Rohit Sharma wary of Pakistan’s potential to bounce back

DALLAS: Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim has been ruled out of the Green Shirts’ opening match against the United States of America (USA) in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan and USA are scheduled to square off in the 11th match of the T20 World Cup on June 6 (tomorrow) at Grand Prairie Stadium.

The left-handed all-rounded is suffering from a side injury, due to which he also missed the fourth T20i against England in the recently concluded series.

Babar Azam confirmed Wasim’s unavailability during a media interaction here on Tuesday

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“Imad Wasim is suffering from a side strain, which means he won’t be able to play in our opening match,” said Azam.

The skipper shared that the medical panel has advised against playing Wasim as a precaution so he can be available for the remaining matches in the mega event.

Following the USA clash, the Green Shirts will face arch-rivals India in a blockbuster clash on June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.

The 2009 champions will then take on Canada on June 11 before locking horns with Ireland in their last group-stage fixture on June 16.

Pakistan Squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

READ: Persistent rain washes out England-Scotland T20 World Cup 2024 clash

LONDON: Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim has been given a rest from the fourth T20I against England as a preventive measure for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

In a statement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared that the all-rounder experienced discomfort in his right rib cage.

“While batting in the nets during Wednesday’s training session, he experienced discomfort in his right rib cage. He was sent for a preventative scan as advised by the PCB medical panel,” stated PCB.

“Keeping the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in mind Imad will take ample rest and is expected to be fit before the start of Pakistan’s campaign,” the statement added.

The PCB Medical panel is actively monitoring Imad Wasim’s progress.

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For the unversed, Imad Wasim was named in Pakistan’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to take place from June 1 to 29 in the United States of America (USA) and the West Indies.

Of the 15 players, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Saim Ayub and Usman Khan have been picked for their maiden T20 World Cup, while Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim last appeared in the 2016 and 2021 tournaments, respectively. The other eight players participated in the 2022 event in Australia.

Pakistan, who lifted the title in the 2009 edition will start their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against the USA on June 6 before taking on arch-rivals India on June 9.

Pakistan Squad for T20 World Cup 2024: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.

READ: Saim Ayub dropped as Babar-Rizwan opening pair returns

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim has opened up about the reasons for the Green Shirts’ 23-run loss against England in the second T20I here on Saturday.

Pakistan were booked for 160 in 19.2 overs while chasing an 184-run target, as England earned a 1-0 lead in the four-match T20I series.

Wasim, while speaking to the media after the game, stated that batters should have dominated the game with aggressive intent but failed to do so, resulting in the loss.

“I agree that the intent which we need is still missing, especially in the middle overs where we needed to dominate. We should have put the pressure on the bowler,” he said.

“During my partnership with Iftikhar [Ahmed] we were in the game and poised to cross the finishing line but we lost our wickets at crucial stages,” he added.

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Wasim and Ahmed knitted a crucial 40-run partnership for the seventh wicket, which kept Pakistan’s hope alive, however, English bowlers made a brilliant comeback, removing both batters in the span of 10 deliveries.

Following their dismissals, Pakistan’s toothless batting tail surrendered against a disciplined England bowling attack and the touring side was consequently bundled out on a meagre total.

Upon being asked about his bowling, Imad Wasim expressed readiness to bowl at any stage of the game according to the team’s requirements.

“I am ready to bowl at any position, be it with the new ball or the death overs, whenever the captain feels that I should come to bowl, I will and I will try to give my best for the team,” he said.

“Sometimes the plans need to be changed according to the match situation and the bowler has to be bowled in a different scenario than planned,” he concluded.

Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim on Wednesday, asserted that he has no individual goals for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and instead focused on leading the team to glory.

Imad, in an interview with a local news channel, opened up about his role in the national men’s team during the four-match T20I series against England, stating that he is willing to contribute both with the bat and the ball as he is not after individual milestones.

“If you talk about bowling, then I’m preparing with the new as well as the old ball because we have many bowlers who excel with the new ball so I may be needed in middle-overs so I can’t and won’t say that I will only bowl with the new ball because I returned to this team to do whatever I’m asked,” Imad said.

“About batting, except opening and top-three, play me at whatever position I will be comfortable. The most important thing is that whatever I perform, should benefit the team as I’ve no individual target for the World Cup. Whether it’s a big or small performance, it should lead Pakistan to victory.”

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Imad Wasim further emphasized the importance of having clarity about the players’ roles in the team before reiterating the importance of every match leading into the T20 World Cup 2024.

“Yes [the performance against England] will matter. Every match is important, we played New Zealand and drew the series when we should have won it. But we learned from that series and we have been given a plan,” stated Imad.

“You will see from the England series that the same 12-13 players playing the matches. And when that team will play together, roles of different players will clarify and each player will know his role so leading into the T20 World Cup, we will be in a positive frame of mind knowing this is my job and I have to do this.”

READ: Pakistan-England first T20I called off due to rain

LEEDS: Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim termed the upcoming four-match series against England crucial for the team’s preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, starting on June 1.

Imad addressed the pre-series press conference here and emphasized the importance of the series just before the mega event while responding to a concern regarding players’ workload management and injury scares.

“It is a good thing. If you think that an injury would occur then that’s not the case. A series right before the World Cup is to finalize the team composition and obviously to win,” stated Imad.

“Also, success gives confidence, so, if we play well in this series then we’ll be able to carry this confidence ahead.

“So, I think we should not think about injury, it can happen anytime, even in the first match of the World Cup.”

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Imad Wasim further lauded the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) medical panel and shared that it has been managing players’ workload management effectively since the home T20I series against New Zealand.

“Our medical panel is quite good, it has been managing the workload since the New Zealand series both of fast bowlers and spinners,” Imad said.

“So, I think there is no such concern regarding injury. Everyone [in the team] is fit,” he added.

The all-rounder then acknowledged that the national men’s team did not play to their potential despite fielding a full-strength side in the home series against New Zealand and in the series opener against Ireland but vowed “not to get relaxed” in the upcoming matches.

“We played with our full-strength side and obviously, if we lost against New Zealand, we did not play good cricket. Even in the defeat against Ireland, we did not play good cricket. It’s a fact.

“But, I think, we need to think positively and I feel that it is good that we suffered a setback earlier not in the World Cup.

“Because it gives you an idea of how to approach and we can not relax even one per cent. Usually, we used to get relaxed. So, we planned after losing the first match against Ireland that we wouldn’t get relaxed and would play all the next matches with the same intensity with which we play after losing,” Imad concluded.

For the unversed, the four-match T20I series between Pakistan and England will run from May 22 to 30 and will serve as a warm-up for both teams heading into the T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan squad:

Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Khan.

England squad:

Jos Buttler (c), Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Duckett, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Tom Hartley, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Reece Topley.

Pak vs Eng T20I series schedule:

1st T20I: Wed, May 22nd
2nd T20I: Sat, May 25th
3rd T20I: Tue, May 28th
4th T20I: Thu, May 30th

READ: Rain likely to spoilsport Pakistan-England T20I series opener

LAHORE: Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim on Saturday, once again brushed aside the claims of any rift between him, Mohammad Amir and white-ball captain Babar Azam.

Imad interacted with the media on the sidelines of the national team’s training session for the Ireland tour and emphasized that his and the entire team’s only goal is to win the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

He further asserted that he would support Pakistan captain Babar Azam, adding that he returned from international retirement for the country.

“We have no issues with Babar. He is the captain of the team and we are all supporting him,” said Imad.

“Maybe Babar has become captain again because he will lead us to the World Cup trophy,” he added.

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Imad Wasim further talked about his return to Pakistan colours and reiterated that his primary goal is to win the World Cup, highlighting the team’s narrow misses in the previous two editions.

“Amir and I returned for one goal – to have one last go and win the World Cup. For the last while we’ve been playing [T20 World Cup] semi-finals and finals, which is a very big achievement.

“But the truth is no one remembers the semi-finalists and finalists. People remember the champions.

“Our goal is to play those semi-finals and finals, and then to win that tournament.

“The result is in God’s hands, but the players’ mentality is to go and win the tournament.”

It is worth mentioning here that the Pakistan men’s cricket team is currently participating in a three-match training session here ahead of their T20I series against Ireland.

All three matches will be held at Clontarf in Dublin on 10, 12 and 14 May 2024 and will start at 3 PM local time.

The three-match away series, followed by four T20Is in England, will serve as a stepping stone for the Green Shirts to boast their preparations for this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA).

Pakistan squad for Ireland and England T20Is

Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan.

READ: PSL 2025 likely to clash with IPL as PCB proposes new window

Azam Siddiqui, the father of Babar Azam, advised his son to show respect to Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim upon becoming captain of the Pakistan cricket team.

Amir and Wasim recently came out of international retirement and made themselves available for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

The tournament is scheduled to be played in the West Indies and the United States of America in June.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday reinstated Babar Azam as the white-ball captain of the national team.

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Babar Azam’s father took to his Instagram account and expressed his excitement over his son’s reappointment as captain.

“The most important thing is that the people of the authority gave honour and respect again,” posted Azam Siddiqui.

He advised the right-hand batter to respect Wasim and Amir due to their seniority and let bygones be bygones.

“Now there are echoes that the team will not be united but I have said to Babar to forget the past. [Mohammad] Amir and Imad [Wasim] are older than and senior to you, meet them with respect and honour their opinion,” he added.

“I have also told Babar to treat everybody in the team like brothers. As all the eleven brothers will conquer the world with unity,” he concluded.

 

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The first assignment of Babar Azam during his second tenure will be a five-match home T20I series against New Zealand, commencing on April 18 in Rawalpindi.

The star batter had previously led Pakistan in white-ball cricket from 2019 to 2023 before stepping down following the team’s dismal performance in the ICC World Cup 2023.

After his resignation, PCB appointed Shan Masood as Test captain, while Shaheen Afridi was handed responsibility to lead the T20I side.

Afridi had an unwanted start to his captaincy reign, which started with a five-match away series loss against New Zealand in January this year.

READ: Top-order blitz puts Sri Lanka 314-4 in Bangladesh Test

Pakistani all-rounder Shadab Khan has opened up about his competition with returning all-rounder Imad Wasim in the national team.

Imad Wasim came out of international retirement last week and declared his availability for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to run from June 2 in the USA and the West Indies.

However, Shadab Khan remained unfazed by Wasim’s comeback and stated that he does not consider the fellow all-rounder a competition.

“I never thought that he [Imad] is my competition, so he will take my place. Whatever Allah has written for him or for me, will happen,” said Shadab while talking to a local news channel.

“Whoever is in form, playing well, and beneficial for Pakistan should be in the team. Such thoughts never crossed my mind.”

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Upon being asked about leading the Pakistan team if the opportunity arose, the star all-rounder shared that he is not considering the prospect of becoming captain at the moment.

“I haven’t thought about becoming the captain of the national team yet. I’ve talked before that we try to change things too quickly by bringing one person over another, thinking that things will be alright,” he added.

He also backed the current T20I captain Shaheen Afridi, stressing that replacing a captain after one series would not benefit the team.

“Changing the captain today and bringing another one tomorrow, things won’t be better that way. We have given Shaheen one series only and we have started talking about replacing him,” he concluded.

READ: Schedule revealed for Pakistan’s white-ball tour of Australia