Mohammad Wasim: “Nawaz also gives the captain the option that he can bowl in any situation, in any conditions and against any type of batsman and that’s where Imad has his limitations”
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Pakistan chief selector Mohammad Wasim noted that spinner Mohammad Nawaz had the ability to bowl in any situation, which is why he is currently preferred over Imad Wasim.
Wasim’s explanation comes after Imad was snubbed for the upcoming tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Wasim said Imad has become a “limited cricketer” and needs to be more versatile. Until that happens, Nawaz will continue to have the edge in regards to selection.
“With Shadab coming back into the team as the main spin-bowling all-rounder there was only one slot available and then Imad was competing with Mohammad Nawaz for the second spot,” Wasim told PakPassion.
“Nawaz has been brilliant whenever he has played, in domestic and also for the national team. At the moment it is a comparison between Imad and Nawaz and if I look at current form then Nawaz has the edge.
“Nawaz also gives the captain the option that he can bowl in any situation, in any conditions and against any type of batsman and that’s where Imad has his limitations.”
Pakistan will play three ODIs and four T20 Internationals against South Africa before heading to Zimbabwe for two Tests and three T20 Internationals.
Pakistan departed for South Africa on March 26 and the tour will commence on April 2 and conclude on April 16. The ODI series will be played first.
The men in green will then head to Zimbabwe on April 17, but the dates for the matches have yet to be confirmed.
However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) noted that the national team will travel back to Lahore from Bulawayo on May 12.
Pakistan’s Test Squad: Babar Azam (capt), Imran Butt, Abid Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Tabish Khan, Hasan Ali, Shahnawaz Dhani, Nauman Ali, Zahid Mahmood, Sajid Khan.
Pakistan’s ODI Squad: Babar Azam (capt), Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Haider Ali, Danish Aziz, Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Usman Qadir, Hasan Ali.
Pakistan’s T20 Squad: Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Haider Ali, Danish Aziz, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Usman Qadir, Hasan Ali, Arshad Iqbal.