"I will always be grateful to Mickey Arthur for his faith in me" : Imad Wasim

[MenInG]

Imad Wasim's 49 run innings to help his side keep their semi-final hopes alive during the recently concluded ICC World Cup 2019 was simply a reconfirmation of his status as a top-quality all-rounder for Pakistan. In 87 international appearances for his country, Imad has taken 80 wickets, scored 1127 runs and has an impressive T20I strike-rate of 152.03.

In an interview with Saj for TheCricketPaper, Imad spoke on a number of topics including his ongoing stint with Nottinghamshire to play in the T20 Blast tournament, why he is saddened by the departure of Mickey Arthur as Head Coach of Pakistan, improvements in his batting form and his views on captaincy for the national side.

PakPassion.net: How would you compare the T20 Blast tournament with other Twenty20 tournaments you have participated in and what attracted you to play in it?

Imad Wasim: I feel that the T20 Blast is an excellent tournament and the games played there are of a good standard. The level of competition is very good but for me the greatest attraction of playing in the T20 Blast is that it allows me to experience county cricket in England. In this way, I get to learn about a different culture and also to get used to different playing conditions. Playing here also allows me to interact with players from England and other countries which is always a great experience.


PakPassion.net: How do you rate Nottinghamshire as a team and how well have you adjusted to playing there?

Imad Wasim: Nottinghamshire are a good side with some very exciting young players who I feel have the ability to one day play for England as well. Players such as Joe Clarke, Tom Moores and Matthew Carter are ones that I feel will soon represent England if they work hard and play to their potential. Of course, they also have Alex Hales who without any doubt is a world-class player and a top cricketer and I do hope he will be back in England colours very soon. All in all, I have been with Nottinghamshire side for about a month now and have found the lads to be very friendly and cooperative and I am thoroughly enjoying my time with them.


PakPassion.net: How impressed have you been with Alex Hales?

Imad Wasim: Absolutely, he is one of the best players I have had the pleasure to play with. He and I played together in the T10 League for Maratha Arabians and he has really impressed me with his batting and style of play. I feel that it’s just a matter of time before we see him back playing for England.


PakPassion.net: How do you feel about the departure of Mickey Arthur as Pakistan Head Coach?

Imad Wasim: Undoubtedly, it’s sad to see Mickey Arthur leave the role of Head Coach but that is a decision which the PCB has made. I do hope that I will have another chance to work with Mickey in the future perhaps at some sort of domestic or league level. Mickey did well for the Pakistan side but that is a decision by the PCB to not renew his contract and we must all respect and abide by it as that is how it is.


PakPassion.net: What were your impressions of Mickey Arthur as a coach and how did he help you develop as a player?

Imad Wasim: The fact that Mickey kept faith in my abilities is something that I will always cherish about his time as Head Coach for Pakistan. He kept on playing me in the side and any cricketer if shown such belief, will eventually come good and I feel that this is how it turned out for me. He helped me immensely with my cricket and worked very hard on my batting skills. I got along very well with him and will always be grateful to him for his faith in me and his insistence on keeping me in the side.


PakPassion.net: Should the next Head Coach for Pakistan be foreign or Pakistani?

Imad Wasim: To be honest as a player, it really does not matter who the Head Coach is as my job is to perform to the best of my abilities. Whoever takes over Mickey’s role will have my wholehearted support and I do wish him all the best. Regardless of where the coach is from, the key idea is for him to keep pushing Pakistan cricket in the right direction and as long as he does that, he would be the ideal person for the job.


PakPassion.net: What is behind the recent improvement in your batting performances?

Imad Wasim: After my comeback from injury in 2018, I worked hard on my batting which I always rated. I felt that if I could take more responsibility with the bat, I would do better as a batsman. I also started to ensure that I would stay to the end and was there to finish the game and the results started to show as they did in the Afghanistan game. So, after my comeback, I have averaged 51 with a strike rate of about 120 which shows that my batting has improved and that obviously pleases me a lot. The fact is that I am not a big-hitter of the ball but what I am concentrating on is being a good manipulator of a cricket ball and also ensuring that I have a healthy strike-rate as well which is very important in the shorter forms of cricket. I do try and set the bowler up to make him bowl the way I would like him to bowl to me, and also think carefully about which ball to take my chances on and then execute my shots.


PakPassion.net: Many feel that you should be batting higher up the order, how do you respond to that suggestion?

Imad Wasim: The actual batting position doesn’t matter to me that much, as what really concerns me is to perform to the expectations of my team. If batting higher up the order is what is needed for me to do the job for the side, then I am more than happy to do that. But, I am totally flexible in this regard and my position in the batting order will always be based upon my team’s requirements which in turn is driven by the wishes of the captain and coach of the side.


PakPassion.net: Some feel you could be effective in Test cricket?

Imad Wasim: Test cricket is not something I would like to pursue as part of my career. Due to my history of injuries, I would rather just play white-ball cricket as I do not think I would be able to last the duration of a Test match. Playing white-ball cricket is the best option for me and will also allow me to extend my career longer and that way I can also serve Pakistan for a longer period of time.


PakPassion.net: Would you, then, sympathize with the likes of Mohammad Amir who no longer wish to play Test cricket?

Imad Wasim: In my view, Mohammad Amir’s decision to retire from Test cricket is a good one. There is a lot of white-ball cricket being played around the world and if Amir can play longer in white-ball formats then, he will also serve Pakistan for a longer time. This would be a better choice for Amir and Pakistan than him just playing a couple of seasons which include Tests and then retiring from the game early due to injuries.


PakPassion.net: Are you concerned that the Pakistan side is becoming no more than a glorified Twenty20 side?

Imad Wasim: I think the PCB have taken some impressive steps in the way they have designed the Central Contracts so as to handsomely compensate Test cricketers, ahead of players who are just good in white-ball cricket. This measure will surely attract young cricketers to take up Test cricket in preference to white-ball cricket. However, we have to remember that at the end of the day, playing any form of cricket is a personal choice. If anyone feels that they can better serve their side and also do better in white-ball cricket, then they should pursue that career path. Personally speaking, I prefer white-ball cricket as does Mohammad Amir but that is our choice although, what I would recommend and urge youngsters is to pursue playing Test cricket in preference to the limited-over versions.


PakPassion.net: The next edition of the Pakistan Super League being held in Pakistan is fantastic news isn't it?.

Imad Wasim: I will be honest here and say that I was over the moon when I came to know that there are concrete plans to hold the 2020 edition of the PSL in Pakistan. The fans in Pakistan are hungry for cricket and there is an unreal appetite for the game in the country. As a player I can say that it will be an awesome feeling to be playing in front of our home crowds as they will cheer for us all through the tournament. I cannot think of a better feeling than playing in front of thousands of fans on our home grounds and that is why I am very excited about the PSL being played in its entirety in Pakistan next year, God-Willing.


PakPassion.net: How important are Wasim Khan and the PCB’s efforts to restore international cricket to Pakistan?

Imad Wasim: I am very pleased to see the PCB MD and his staff working very hard to try and get foreign teams to visit and play series in Pakistan. For that, one must give immense credit to the PCB and if they succeed in restoring full tours to Pakistan then it will be a huge achievement for all of us. As a cricketer, there is nothing better than having the opportunity to play international cricket in front of our home crowds and no words can describe that feeling of elation. We must also thank the ICC as they have made a lot of efforts to try and make this happen and of course to the Pakistan government for their attention to this important matter.


PakPassion.net: Is captaincy of the Pakistan limited-overs teams something that you would consider if offered?

Imad Wasim: As a young cricketer, I have always wanted to play for Pakistan and being offered captaincy would be an honour for me. However, this is something for the PCB to decide and I would never go to them and ask for this position. To be clear, I will be happy to serve under any player that the PCB offers the captaincy to as all I am interested in is serving my country. My job is to play cricket and if I am given the responsibility to captain the side, it would be great as I have never backed down from a challenge, but if not, then just being a member of the team will be an honour in itself.

[Rellu_Katta]

His innings vs Afg was a treat to watch... what i really liked about that innings was the way he handled the pressure , not only from a hostile Afg team (in terms of cricket) but the hostile, abusive pressure from the crowd.. the match did not, from any view, look like a cricket game.. looked like a war. and thts what really impressed me ... previously, i never agreed for him to be in the team but now i think he shld def be in all LOI

[Mueez]

Finally Imad Wasim is showing his worth.

He is a must in our LO-team.

[Sir-fraz]

yea still not convinced by the new malik/hafeez clone.

[Savak]

Don't understand the softness of our new generation of players. A guy who is a spinner claims his body can't handle test cricket. Players develop principally in the longer format of the game

[Markhor]

Imad developed well under Mickey. Interesting to note his candidness about not pursuing a Test career due to his knee problems.

[hitthestump]

Railu Katta in anything but the t20 format. Can't take any wickets, will rarely win you a game with the bat. Should have been caught out in the glorified Afghan game.

[MenInG]

Don't understand the softness of our new generation of players. A guy who is a spinner claims his body can't handle test cricket. Players develop principally in the longer format of the game

Its not softness - if you have an injury problem then that's all there is to it

[AdamM97]

Railu Katta in anything but the t20 format. Can't take any wickets, will rarely win you a game with the bat. Should have been caught out in the glorified Afghan game.

Exactly, Imad Wasim should only play T20 for Pak, he's really good in T20 cricket. He should be replaced by another spinner in ODIs.

[Saj]

Very open and honest thoughts from Imad especially regarding whether he could cope with 5-day cricket.

He obviously has a lot of respect for Mickey Arthur and to be fair to Mickey, Imad improved quite a bit with him as Head Coach.

[Prince of Pakistan]

People will miss Mickey. The guy got youngsters in and had faith in them.

[Officer Barbrady]

A spinner who says he can’t play the long format! What a load of nonsense. Wonder if he’d change his answer if told availability for test cricket was a prerequisite for playing in foreign T20 leagues.

We need to incentivize test cricket

[Boi]

Instead of working hard and getting themselves in to shape these guys look for the easy way out and say no to Test cricket. Absolute jokers.

Just need to raise the fitness bar ever so slightly and Imad won’t even make the cut for the LOI sides lol

[Savak]

A spinner who says he can’t play the long format! What a load of nonsense. Wonder if he’d change his answer if told availability for test cricket was a prerequisite for playing in foreign T20 leagues.

We need to incentivize test cricket

Only way forward. Anyone who does not make himself available for test cricket should not be given nocs for T20 leagues

[angeldsoul]

Fair play

[Mamoon]

A bit of a shame because I thought he could have been a good second spinner in the UAE. He can bat as well as Shafiq and can bowl long, economical spells.

[MenInG]

Imad has a lot of talent - just hope he gets a good coach to work with - think KK and Mickey may be his route to success.

[Boi]

He shouldn’t accept the captaincy of a FC side if he has no aspirations for playing Test Cricket.

[MenInG]

He shouldn’t accept the captaincy of a FC side if he has no aspirations for playing Test Cricket.

Totally agree - maybe PCB should talk to their own players also!

[SensiblePakFan]

He shouldn’t accept the captaincy of a FC side if he has no aspirations for playing Test Cricket.

Yea doesnt make much sense.

[Hawkeye]

This Railu Katta is given far more importance than he deserves - he's nothing but a T20 specialist.

Being able to speak good English and the ability to manage social media profiles gets you lots of things in Pak cricket.

[Stewie]

If Steve Smith can become a world class test batsman from his beginnings as a boys and pieces legsspinning relu katta , I Don think anyone is beyond hope. It’s a matter of working hard and playing smart.
Imad has shown potential. It’s just sad our country doesn’t prioritize tests as much. But he can be a useful member of the test team mainly as a batsman in the middle order.

[Saj]

An improving cricketer but those knee problems are going to become an issue sooner or later.

[Savak]

An improving cricketer but those knee problems are going to become an issue sooner or later.

Maybe he should help himself by not carrying a belly/paunch

[Saj]

Imad will not be playing for Notts at Finals day tomorrow as the PCB did not give him an NOC.

[PakLFC]

I feel the end of Mickey could mean the end for Imad as well.

[MenInG]

Going downhill for Imad now... 2 nothing shots in the 3rd T20I - and paid the price

[Rayyman]

Going downhill for Imad now... 2 nothing shots in the 3rd T20I - and paid the price

He is not a good player of short pitch bowling.

I am not sure if Imad should go to the WC in Australia next year. His batting and bowling will both be ineffective. Maybe as a squad player, but not as a starter in the XI.

[MenInG]

Kamran Akaml having a go at Imad Wasim in his remarks:

"I am happy that Imad Wasim has been selected, his criteria isn't fitness, his criteria is that he does well for the team. If fitness was the criteria for him, he would never be in the team."

[HappyWarsFan]

This rellu katta is mediocre at bowling and now he can't even hold a bat anymore. Look at.his recent matches

[Hawkeye]

By now, it's clear that he was failing fitness tests, but was still being given an exception and included in the team.

He's a true definition of relu katta - doesn't spin the ball, can't take wickets, and has zero lower-order hitting credentials.

The only thing he can do reasonbly well is accumulate runs in ODIs, if he comes in top 4-5. Number 6 to 8 is far too low for him, because he can't hit and certainly can't take on the pacers.

He'll fail you 8 out of 10 times in the lower order hitter position, because he can't even chase 20 required runs off 15 balls.

His darting/bowling has been mauled by every half-decent batsman in the world.

[Rayyman]

Y'all crazy as hell

He is

Ranked #3 All-Rounder in ODIs

Ranked #4 Bowler in T20Is

[BreadPakoda]

By now, it's clear that he was failing fitness tests, but was still being given an exception and included in the team.

He's a true definition of relu katta - doesn't spin the ball, can't take wickets, and has zero lower-order hitting credentials.

The only thing he can do reasonbly well is accumulate runs in ODIs, if he comes in top 4-5. Number 6 to 8 is far too low for him, because he can't hit and certainly can't take on the pacers.

He'll fail you 8 out of 10 times in the lower order hitter position, because he can't even chase 20 required runs off 15 balls.

His darting/bowling has been mauled by every half-decent batsman in the world.

Being unfair on him. He has strong lower-order hitting credentials and is a utility bowler. Averages 40+ with a 100+ SR. Ain't bad for a number 7/8. Very similar to Jadeja in ODIs.

[moghul]

What a non-sense, Imad bowled very well today , 15 runs in 3 over and opened the bowling on a flat wicket and fast out field. Choked the BD openers. There must be some personal biased and disliking on opening the ridiculous thread.

[Hawkeye]

Being unfair on him. He has strong lower-order hitting credentials and is a utility bowler. Averages 40+ with a 100+ SR. Ain't bad for a number 7/8. Very similar to Jadeja in ODIs.

That's simplifying the picture a bit too much.

That SR has no value, because you need someone who can smash the ball and take on the pacers when there's a deficit between balls remaining and required runs.

I would not mind him playing at #4 if he can have that SR and take wickets, but he doesn't have the game of a hitter you can rely on. Midwicket slogs don't always work either.

[GreenKhan]

I’m no fan of Imad Wasim , but he adds decent value to the squad . He tends to bat better on faster pitches but his bowling suffers in those conditions. So it’s a bit of a catch 22 situation with him .

[Mirpur express]

lol @ the thread not a big fan of Imad but he has turned it on with bat when it really mattered & Bowles some tight spells ps he is officially in top 5 all rounders in white ball cricket

[Mamoon]

He is easily our best all-rounder. However, people should not expect Asian batsmen to play cross-batted slogs to his straight deliveries.

As long as he is bowling economically, he is doing his job. The player that we should be worried about is Shadab, the king of Railu Kattas.

[shah_1]

He is easily our best all-rounder. However, people should not expect Asian batsmen to play cross-batted slogs to his straight deliveries.

As long as he is bowling economically, he is doing his job. The player that we should be worried about is Shadab, the king of Railu Kattas.

Imad actually is one of the best no 7 in the world in ODIs.

Today his dismisal was unlucky, the bowl kept low.

[coy0607]

Imad generally has value in T20 because he can give you a decently economical 4 over and contribute 10-20 runs with the bat.

But the way the team is set up right now, with Hafeez, Malik and Ifthikar all available as bowling options along with 4 front line bowlers, Imad is a little redundant. I would rather play an extra batsmen - namely Khushdil.

That same argunment can be made for Shadab - don't think there is room for them both in the playing 11. An extra batsmen would be much better. Pakistan was a Malik wicket away from total collapse today

[Omer2002]

Never seen him as any good not even bits of pieces but has done enough to stay in the team

[omairsiddiqui]

Not raising questions over his performance, but man, his fitness standards are very, very poor. He is clearly overweight and was struggling in the field. How Imad himself isn't embarrassed about that as a senior cricketer is beyond me.

[MenInG]

Big test for Imad tonight - a few tense moments in progress but he did it against Afghanistan!

[Rana]

The natural captain.

[marlonbrowndo]

Excellent cricketer by our standards

[Zaz]

Not that it was a big task when he came out but hes a very clutch player in general which is rare for pakistani players

Pakistan needs more of his type

[RedwoodOriginal]

Imad captained KK really well throughout the tournament. But was particularly shrewd with the bowling changes today that made all difference in the end.

Led with the front in the last game too. Karachi could have been out had it not been for his level headed batting at the end.

[SensiblePakFan]

Did very well to keep his cool in the playoffs.

[Rayyman]

Imad is the best all-rounder in white ball cricket.

Rest In Peace to those who said Shadab is a better captain.

[Syed1]

Three situations from the top of my head where Imad came in in an absolute pressure cooker situation and batted like he was in the nets. T20 vs SL, WC match vs Afg and now PSL final.

Proper clutch this guy.


Just wish he had the drive and work ethic to improve and keep up his fitness.

[Hadi Rizvi]

Imad has been so underrated especially on PP.

Almost always miserly with the ball and hits a quick cameo down the order. Makes sure there is no drama during chases and ties down the opposition with his super accurate floaters.
What else do you want in LOIs?

[Watsupdoc]

Three situations from the top of my head where Imad came in in an absolute pressure cooker situation and batted like he was in the nets. T20 vs SL, WC match vs Afg and now PSL final.

Proper clutch this guy.


Just wish he had the drive and work ethic to improve and keep up his fitness.

I watched the WC match against Afghan live. Rashid was making him dance to his tune, but he didn’t give up and in the end won it for us!

Good player under pressure.

[Thunderbolt14]

Imad has been so underrated especially on PP.

Almost always miserly with the ball and hits a quick cameo down the order. Makes sure there is no drama during chases and ties down the opposition with his super accurate floaters.
What else do you want in LOIs?

Must have player in T20’s, the guy’s won two tournament finals this year and his economy with the ball is extremely valuable for that.

In ODI’s, very useful but one wonders whether a more attacking spinner can be used to obtain wickets rather than just be economical. Imad’s strategy in his own words is to choke the runs until the batsman gives his wicket away, not sure this strategy will work against a lineup of say Kohli, Rohit, KL Rahul

[Bewal Express]

Imad should be the T20 Capatain

[world cup captain]

Imad is the best all-rounder in white ball cricket.

Rest In Peace to those who said Shadab is a better captain.

Exactly how is Imad a better captain than Shadad? A single PSL does not mean Imad is a captain than Shadab. Does one CT equates to Sarfraz being a better captain than Kohli?

The Northerns had the National T20 in their hands but botched it by handing over the captaincy from Shadab to Imad. KK has won the PSL with Babar and the sheer amount of runs he scored. Of the 1175 runs scored by KK this season, 40% of all KK runs from Babar which is the highest distribution from all teams. Babar made sure that KK won their games when it mattered (only exception was SF where KK barely made it).

You have to consider the age difference in Imad and Shadab. With his fitness, Imad would be lucky to make it to WC 23' let alone make the playing XL. It would be a waste of time to give him any leadership in the team despite his high cricketing IQ (which I agree with). In the long run, Shadab can accomplish much more than Imad.

[shamaan]

The only reason they won the touanement was due to babar yes imad contributed with bat and bowl but he also lost the national cup due to imad captincy.so not sure how people can state he should captained due to Karachi winning the tournament

[shamaan]

The natural captain.

He wasnt so natural in the national cup were he seemed mediocre

[The Viper]

Imad Wasim looks set to sign for Melbourne Renegades for this year's Big Bash League. He's had an offer from the Renegades and is just waiting for the NOC #Cricket #BBL10

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) November 29, 2020

[aloo paratha]

Imad Wasim looks set to sign for Melbourne Renegades for this year's Big Bash League. He's had an offer from the Renegades and is just waiting for the NOC #Cricket #BBL10

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) November 29, 2020

So will he miss the SA T20Is? That would honestly be pretty nice, get a chance to try out someone new

[Snowflake]

His innings vs Afg was a treat to watch... what i really liked about that innings was the way he handled the pressure , not only from a hostile Afg team (in terms of cricket) but the hostile, abusive pressure from the crowd.. the match did not, from any view, look like a cricket game.. looked like a war. and thts what really impressed me ... previously, i never agreed for him to be in the team but now i think he shld def be in all LOI

Totally agree! The way both Imad and Wahab handled that situation was very impressive. It reminded me of the days when Pak would dismiss minnows like BD, WI and even NZ in their sleep! That's the kind of confidence that these two showed.

Our current lot has gone too timid, so players with some spine should be appreciated.

[shamaan]

So will he miss the SA T20Is? That would honestly be pretty nice, get a chance to try out someone new

Very doubt he will be allowed to miss the t20s and am suprised he hasnt rejectdd that offer

[aloo paratha]

Very doubt he will be allowed to miss the t20s and am suprised he hasnt rejectdd that offer

i'm sure he'd rather be able to play in Australia for a month rather than stay back for just 3 T20s. If it wasn't covid times he could come back to Pakistan, play the series and go back to Asutralia.

[shamaan]

i'm sure he'd rather be able to play in Australia for a month rather than stay back for just 3 T20s. If it wasn't covid times he could come back to Pakistan, play the series and go back to Asutralia.

Of course he rather go austrlia earn some money but if he wants to continue playing for pakistan he has to sacrifice one or the other.

[aloo paratha]

Of course he rather go austrlia earn some money but if he wants to continue playing for pakistan he has to sacrifice one or the other.

Even I'd rather him play BBL for over a month, rather than sacrifice it all for 3 random T20I games.