Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim reflected on his team’s performance and shocking exit from the ongoing T20 Cricket World Cup in the Americas. Imad came out of retirement ahead of this 20-team-tournament only to see his side getting knocked out inside the group stages. Wasim called this the lowest point in Pakistan Cricket, adding that as a unit, they must let go of the fear of failure to stand tall in the format they once ruled.

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Pakistan won the competition in 2009 in England, continuing to dominate this format until internal politics, poor cricket, and frequent changes inside the board and within the leadership group led to their mighty fall in T20Is. What’s worse is the mentality that restricted them all these years to achieve big at the bigger stages, and Wasim feels Pakistan must let go of this first.

Speaking to the media ahead of Pakistan’s last league game against Ireland in Lauderhill, Florida, Wasim shared his thoughts on the side’s exit, and what are the go-to steps.

“Yes, this is the lowest point. You can’t go any lower than this. That’s the fact.” Wasim said. 

“I know we’re out of the tournament, and it’s hard for the players, but at the end, this is an international game, a World Cup game so we won’t take anything lightly.

“We will go out there and play for the country and play for the pride of our country, which we already did, but unfortunately, the results we can’t control. Yeah, but we go out there and play like it’s a World Cup game,” he continued.

The mighty fall!

Pakistan’s loss to the co-hosts USA in their tournament opener was a shocker, to say the least. The Men in Green were far from convincing during the game, whose result was decided in the super over. Come to the game against India, Pakistan lost the match from a winning position.

Imad, whose innings at the end were one of the reasons why they failed to click and get past the winning line, said he was disappointed with the result as every other Pakistani, further explaining what went inside his head during the run chase.

“The game plan was to take the ball deep. The wicket was not good to play. It was a little difficult. Unfortunately, my plan was going according to plan but not execution.

“Because usually when I bat, I take the ball deep. And if I hit any boundary on either end, the game would have been different. Having said that, he [Axar] did very well in bowling, and he did it on the spot. He didn’t bowl too badly. Usually, under pressure, bowlers give you a ball, and there is a margin. But I think I was taking the game deep, and I was hoping that a new batsman would come, and for that, it is virtually impossible. But Naseem hit two good shots,” he continued saying.

What’s the solution?

Reflecting on how should the board and the team approach this result and the future that lies ahead, Wasim said.

“When you fall, how do you get up and approach the world? And how do you react? That is what we have to see now. It is a very sad thing. But, who knows, it could be a big thing for Pakistan cricket. Revamp it, revisit it and play it the way white ball cricket should be played. 

“So, me personally and our team, including me, are very disappointed and sad. And the whole public is sad that we didn’t perform well and we are to blame for it. But I would also like to say that we are human beings, we can make mistakes and we are also saddened by these things,” he added.

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