Dubai: Pakistan’s Imad Wasim, who destroyed West Indies in the Twenty20 and One Day International series in the UAE recently with his accurate left arm spin, wants to carry his form into the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to be held in the UAE during February-March next year.
Speaking to Gulf News after the launch of the new-look Karachi Kings team at the Conrad Hotel recently, Wasim said: “The performance I gave against West Indies is now a thing of the past. As a cricketer, you have to set your next target and I am looking forward to play in the second edition of the PSL and be part of Karachi Kings. I am going to play a major role for Karachi Kings in the tournament.”
When asked how much did his performance against the West Indies, world champions in Twenty20 format, help him psychologically, Wasim said: “I am a positive guy whether I perform or not. My confidence is the same always as I work very hard. You will be able to see the impact of my recent performances during PSL on the field.” Wasim is currently the second Pakistan bowler to bag five wickets in a Twenty20 International match.
Wasim’s sheer variety has made him a tough bowler for the batsmen to read. His left-arm in-dipper is always accurate and his stock ball, which sometimes doesn’t spin but swings while opening the bowling in Twenty20 format, had caught many a batsmen by surprise. To a query as to how he mastered these deliveries, Wasim said: “It took me nearly 10 years to get into the Pakistan team. Before that I was playing domestic cricket and I was trying to master some art. Whether it is spin or the arm ball, I had to master one so I mastered the arm ball really well. I can spin the ball but depends on what kind of situation I am bowling. Usually I bowl in the powerplay. I am really happy what I have achieved right now. My aim is represent my country as long as I want to and I want to make a name for myself and make my country proud.”
Wasim is a thinking cricketer who can speak eloquently on all aspects of the game. He was born in Swansea in England to Pakistan parents who lived there and then went on to play league cricket in England and Ireland. In fact, he was set to study medicine but after getting selected to play for Pakistan Under-19 team, he choose cricket as his career.
“If someone criticises or praises me, I accept both in the same way because I respect criticism as well as praise. I know they are doing it for my benefit and so I will take it in a positive way and try to rectify the mistakes,” he said.
