Mohammad Hafeez: “We make all-rounders [out of] every other bowler who hits a six. Mohammad Wasim Jr is just a tailender and not an all-rounder”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan team director and interim head coach Mohammad Hafeez said it is wrong to classify fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jnr as an all-rounder just because he can hit sixes.
Wasim Jnr has shown he can be a handy batsman lower down the order and provide some quick runs, which can be useful in the death overs.
Despite possessing some firepower, Hafeez noted that it doesn’t mean the 22-year-old can get into any team as an all-rounder.
“We make all-rounders [out of] every other bowler who hits a six. Mohammad Wasim Jr is just a tailender and not an all-rounder,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Wasim Jnr, who hails from North Waziristan, recently played for the Quetta Gladiators in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and took nine wickets in eight matches at an average of 33 and an economy rate of 9.90.
Following PSL 9, he didn’t feature in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which ended as a 2-2 draw.
He also wasn’t picked for the ongoing three-match T20I series against Ireland, where the men in green find themselves 1-0 down after losing the first game by five wickets.
After this series, Pakistan will play four T20Is against England from May 22 to May 30.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
He is a tailender who can sometimes score quick runs. Cannot be classified as an all-rounder. Hasan Ali also falls under this category. Imad and Shadab are lower order batsmen cum bowlers.