In a surprising turn of events, the cricketing world is bidding farewell to one of its stalwarts as Imad Wasim announces retirement from international cricket. Imad, known for his all-around allegiance to the game, has left a memorable mark on the sport.
As fans and fellow cricketers immerse in the news, introspections on his outstanding career and the influence he has had on the field are pouring in. This retirement marked the end of an era for the left-arm orthodox bowler, a player whose voyage has been interwoven with so many ups and some downs and a deep-seated love for the game called cricket.
Imad Wasim announces retirement In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter)
Having Played the last of his international matches in April 2023, the former Pakistani Player shared his feelings via a paragraph. He stated that
“In recent days I have been doing a lot of thinking about my international career and I have come to the conclusion that now is the right time for me to announce my retirement from international career,” Wasim said. “I would like to thank the PCB for all their support over the years – it has truly been an honor to represent Pakistan. Each of my 121 appearances across the ODI and T20I formats was a dream come true. It’s an exciting time for Pakistan cricket going forward with new coaches and leadership incoming. I wish all involved every success and I look forward to watching the team excel”.
He further added
“Thank you to the Pakistan fans for always supporting me with such passion. A final thank you to my family and friends who have been so important in helping me achieve at the highest level. I now look forward to focusing on the next stage of my playing career away from the international stage.”
Some of the notable achievements of Imad Wasim’s Career
34-year-old started his career with a bang as a part of Pakistan’s Under-19 World Cup-winning side in 2006 and also as a teenager got the opportunity to lead Pakistan in the next edition, in 2008.
Nonetheless, He had to pause till 2015 to earn a Pakistan debut as his dream came true in a T20I against Zimbabwe in Lahore. This was the same series in which the Pakistan star batter Babar Azam made his first appearance in the international arena when international cricket returned to Pakistan six years after the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore. He got a chance to represent Pakistan in the T20 World Cup that came after, in 2016 in India.
Imad was a member of the Champion trophy-winning squad
Imad was part of the Pakistan side that lifted the Champions Trophy in 2017, where they defeated India in the final. He played in the final too, scoring an unbeaten 25 off 21 balls in an important cameo towards the end of the side’s innings. He also dismissed Ab Devilliers on a duck in the group match against South Africa.
Overall, he took 44 wickets and scored 986 runs in ODIs. In T20Is, he has taken 65 wickets and scored 486 runs. His best performance with the ball, coincidentally, is similar in both formats – 5 for 14. Imad is currently leading Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League and recently played in the CPL.
He has always been considered an underrated all-rounder in One Day Internationals. He has a batting average of 42.86 and a strike rate of 110.29 while his bowling economy(4.48) from an allrounder point of view has been brilliant. In 2019, he captained Pakistan in ODIs for the first time, as a stand-in against Australia in Dubai.
Imad lost his place in the ODI side in 2020, with his appearance against Zimbabwe in a bilateral series being his last in the format. The spin all-rounder was part of the Pakistan team during the T20I series against New Zealand in April but failed to make the team for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
PCB has released a press as Imad Wasim announces retirement
Imad’s decision to retire came as a surprise for the fans as he represented Pakistan in the last T20I series in April and was in contention for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.
PCB has lauded Imad for his services while wishing him the best of luck for his future.
Meanwhile, the veteran all-rounder is seeking a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the PCB to feature in the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10 League. He is likely to get permission to play in overseas cricket and is expected to play franchise cricket for a few more years.
A separate press release issued by the board quoted PCB Interim Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf as saying that Wasim had been a “valuable asset to Pakistan cricket”.
“His performances, especially in white-ball cricket, have been crucial to the team’s success. While we respect his decision to retire, we will miss his presence on the field,” Ashraf said.
“On behalf of the PCB and its management committee, I extend our sincere thanks to Imad for his services to Pakistan cricket and wish him the very best in his future endeavors,” he added.
Also Read:
