'He is Nowhere…' - Md Hafeez Shows Disappointment In Imad Wasim

image-lt49q3v0Imad Wasim congratulating Babar Azam. (X.com)

Former Pakistan cricketer and director of cricket, Mohammad Hafeez, voiced his disappointment over the lack of impact from Imad Wasim following a close fought encounter between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 season.

In the 13th match of PSL 2024, Islamabad United, led by Shadab Khan, opted to bowl first in Lahore. Imad, representing Islamabad, was entrusted with just one over, in which he conceded 17 runs.

Introduced as the first change bowler, Imad turned out to be an expensive option, conceding 17 runs in his solitary over. Given his costly first over, skipper Shadab opted not to utilize him further in the innings, with seven other options at his disposal.

 Imad's batting performance was equally forgettable, as he managed only 1 run off 3 balls batting at number eight. Peshawar Zalmi, led by Babar Azam, secured victory by eight runs.

In the aftermath of Islamabad's defeat, Hafeez criticized Imad Wasim, highlighting his lack of impact with both bat and ball in this year's PSL. Hafeez expressed bewilderment at Imad's dwindling influence in the league.

"I don't understand Imad (Wasim)'s impact at all. As a bowler, as a batsman, he is nowhere in the PSL. There are higher expectations from Imad," said Hafeez while speaking to a local sports channel.

Similarly, seam-bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf's performance was lackluster as well. Like Imad, Faheem scored just 1 run and remained wicketless, prompting Hafeez to comment on his diminishing presence in recent PSL seasons. 

According to Hafeez, the underperformance of these key players, particularly from a bowling perspective, significantly affects Islamabad United's performance.

"Faheem (Ashraf)'s impact seems to have decreased over the past few PSL seasons. The total out-of-form performance of Faheem and Imad is dragging Islamabad United down from a bowling point of view," he further added.

Imad, playing for Islamabad United, has managed only one wicket in four games, with an average of 95 and an economy rate of 8.63. Known for his all-round abilities, Imad has come under scrutiny for his lackluster performances.

Having retired from international cricket and now solely focusing on league cricket, Imad faces mounting pressure to deliver in the upcoming matches to silence his critics.