Pakistan spinner Imad Wasim: “Yeah, you never know. But I told you, like, the decision I took, I was 100% in it and at the end, it was my decision. But you never know when Pakistan needs you, you have to do something about it”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan spinner Imad Wasim has hinted that he could potentially reverse his retirement decision and play international cricket again in the future.
Imad brought the curtain down on his Pakistan career in November 2023 and has since been participating in T20 leagues all over the world.
However, in order for him to represent his country again, the 35-year-old needs certain conditions met, such as clarity around his selection and being handed the responsibility he deserves as a senior player.
“Yeah, you never know. But I told you, like, the decision I took, I was 100% in it and at the end, it was my decision. But you never know when Pakistan needs you, you have to do something about it,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
“The thing is what I want to know, it’s about the clarity. It’s about giving me responsibility, not as a captain but as a senior player, giving me [the] responsibility to take the team where I want to take or where the group of senior players want to take.
“So I want Pakistan to play the right cricket, right combination, right type of cricket, right style of cricket, and that’s about it.
“There’s nothing wrong in taking retirements and there’s nothing wrong in being mentally not there. So, yeah, I’m really happy and I’m still happy. I’m playing cricket all over the world. I was playing before that as well. But, yeah, hopefully something good comes up soon.”
The Pakistan team have struggled as of late as they lost 3-0 in their Test series against Australia before being beaten 4-1 in a T20I series against New Zealand.
Imad is now playing for Islamabad United in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and has taken one wicket in four matches at an average of 95 and an economy rate of 8.63.
Islamabad United Squad for PSL 9: Shadab Khan (captain), Naseem Shah, Jordan Cox, Imad Wasim, Azam Khan, Tymal Mills, Faheem Ashraf, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Rumman Raees, Matthew Forde, Salman Ali Agha, Qasim Akram, Shahab Khan, Hunain Shah, Ubaid Shah, Shamyl Hussain, Obed McCoy, Haider Ali, Muhammad Waseem