Mohammad Wasim Jr Archives

Shaheen Afridi clears the air on Wasim Jr’s limited white-ball appearances

Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Afridi has finally addressed the ongoing debate around the limited game time of Mohammad Wasim Jr.

Afridi offered clarity on why the young pacer has featured sporadically in white-ball cricket despite remaining part of the squad.

Wasim Jr, long viewed as one of Pakistan’s brightest fast-bowling prospects, has 41 wickets in 25 ODIs and remains highly rated for his pace and ability to move the ball.

Yet over the past year, his limited appearances have sparked widespread discussion among fans and critics.

He played just one match in the recent South Africa ODI series and two against Sri Lanka, picking up a combined five wickets.

Before that, he made only two ODI appearances on Pakistan’s New Zealand tour in April, and has not featured in T20Is since January 2024.

Speaking after Pakistan’s ODI series win over Sri Lanka, Shaheen Afridi revealed that Wasim Jr’s irregular run was not a reflection of his ability, but of his physical condition.

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“I think he was being rotated, but perhaps you people weren’t aware,” Shaheen said at the post-match press conference. “Wasim Junior had a few injuries, and you usually give players opportunities based on those injuries.”

Shaheen explained that while Mohammad Wasim Jr. remained with the squad, he was not always fully fit to play consecutive matches.

“If a player is travelling with the team but not fully fit, like Wasim Junior was with the team, but he was carrying several injuries, then the team management naturally keeps rotating him,” he added.

The captain also stressed the importance of proper rehabilitation for bowlers, noting that fast bowling demands careful workload management.

“When you are with the team, you still need some treatment and care,” he said. “Now that he has made a comeback in the ODIs, he has shown that he has the skill; he can reverse swing the ball very well.”

Shaheen concluded by reaffirming the value Wasim Jr brings when healthy, placing him firmly among Pakistan’s current crop of match-winning quicks.

“All the bowlers in the pool right now are game-changers, and they are playing good cricket throughout,” he added.

READ: Daryl Mitchell in doubt for remainder of West Indies ODI series

PCB provides update on Mohammad Wasim Jr’s injury

LAHORE: Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr. has resumed training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore after recovering from the side strain that ruled him out of Pakistan’s recent tours of Bangladesh and the West Indies.

According to PCB sources, the 23-year-old has cleared all fitness tests and is now taking part in full-fledged training sessions under the supervision of the high-performance staff.

He is also focusing on refining his bowling action, a key area identified as a contributing factor to his repeated injury concerns.

The adjustments, aimed at reducing physical strain and improving long-term durability, are being closely monitored by medical and coaching personnel at the NCA.

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For the unversed, Mohammad Wasim Jr. sustained the injury during the latter stages of the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 while representing Quetta Gladiators.

Despite initial medical advice recommending a week’s rest, his recovery took longer than expected, forcing him out of the Bangladesh T20Is and the ongoing West Indies tour.

The right-arm pacer had earlier featured in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year, playing two games and picking up a solitary wicket.

Despite his fitness struggles, Wasim delivered a solid PSL 10 campaign, finishing with 10 wickets in eight matches at an average of 20.80 and a tidy economy rate of 7.38, playing a crucial role in Quetta’s journey to the final.

READ: Babar Azam, Rizwan reach Florida to join Pakistan squad for West Indies ODIs

Wasim Jr ruled out of Asia Cup 2022, Hasan returns to Pakistan Squad

DUBAI: Pakistan right-arm pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr has been ruled out of the upcoming Asia Cup 2022, and his counterpart Hasan Ali named as the replacement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed.

Wasim Jr, who complained of back pain during the team’s practice session on Thursday before being sent to the hospital for MRI scans, has now been ruled out of the Asian event.

The medical panel of the PCB analyzed the MRI reports of the young pacer and unanimously decided to send him back to the country.

Following Wasim ruling out of the Asian event, experienced pacer Hasan has been named as the replacement and will join the Pakistan contingent after travelling here via the earliest possible flight.

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Zahid, Wasim Jr to make their ODI debuts against Australia

LAHORE: Pakistan’s leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood and the all-rounder Mohammad Wasim Jr will make their ODI debuts against Australia, here at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the two cricketers will make their ODI debut today in the first ODI of the historic three-match series against Australia.

Wasim and Zahid have already represented the country in T20Is, however, this will be their first international match in the 50-overs format. Wasim has played 10 T20I matches, while Zahid could represent the green shirts in only one match.

On the other hand, Australia’s leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson and right-arm speedster Nathan Ellis will also be making their ODI debuts.

READ: Shaheen Shah Afridi ruled out of first ODI due to injury

Iftikhar, Wasim Jr to replace Hasan, Faheem for the first Test against Australia

RAWALPINDI: The captain of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) – Iftikhar Ahmed and fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr, has replaced Hassan Ali and Faheem Ashraf in Pakistan’s Test squad for the first match of the three-match series against Australia.

Iftikhar and Wasim Jr, who are chosen due to their all-round ability will replace Hasan and Faheem in the Rawalpindi Test squad as the latter two have been ruled out of the first Test due to injuries.

Both Wasim and Iftikhar will reach Islamabad tonight and will only be able to join the squad after completing a mandatory three-day isolation period. Whereas, Hasan and Faheem will rejoin the squad in the coming week after following the same protocols.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s released statement, Hasan and Faheem are expected to regain full fitness before the second Test that will be played in Karachi from March 12 to March 16.

15-player squad: Babar Azam (captain) (Central Punjab), Mohammad Rizwan (vice-captain) (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Abdullah Shafique (Central Punjab), Azhar Ali (Central Punjab), Fawad Alam (Sindh), Haris Rauf (Northern), Iftikhar Ahmed (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Imam-ul-Haq (Balochistan), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Nauman Ali (Northern), Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Saud Shakeel (Sindh), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Shan Masood (Balochistan) and Zahid Mahmood (Sindh)

READ: Babar Azam joins practice session for the home series against Australia