Imad Wasim: “I think they [will be] a force to be reckoned with in a couple years’ time”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim firmly believes that Afghanistan will be “a force to be reckoned with in a couple years’ time”.

Imad’s comments come after Afghanistan pushed Pakistan to their limit in their World Cup clash at Headingley on Saturday.

It was thanks to Imad that Pakistan came out on top by three wickets with two balls to spare as he struck an unbeaten 49, which came off 54 balls and included five boundaries.

However, Imad noted that Afghanistan also gave India a run for their money as they fell 11 runs short of causing one of the World Cup’s biggest upsets.

“Afghanistan’s spinners are world-class, if they score 250-260 on any track, they can trouble any team,” Imad was quoted as saying by PakPassion. “Credit goes to them for their improvement in the last five years, they are giving every team [a tough time], they gave India a tough time and Pakistan also. I think they [will be] a force to be reckoned with in a couple years’ time.

“We think of Afghanistan as a lowly team but that isn’t the case at all, we face them in matches and they are a very tough side. If you lose one to two wickets in a run chase, it’s very difficult to chase against them.

“Rashid (Khan), Mujeeb (Ur Rahman), (Mohammad) Nabi are all high-level bowlers and the wicket was suiting them too. I think our intensity was high but you should credit them for forcing us back.”

With Pakistan having defeated Afghanistan, they will now have to beat Bangladesh at Lord’s on Friday to have any chance of reaching the last four.

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