Pakistan All-rounder Imad Wasim has admitted that Pakistan cricket is at its lowest point under Babar Azam after the Men in Green exited from the T20 WC 2024 Group stages.
Imad Wasim, who had retired from the international circuit in early 2023, had returned to the National side only this year in April. He was called back by the Pakistan Cricket Board exactly a year after he announced retirement. What prompted the PCB to bring him back to the team was the player's performance in this year's Pakistan Super League.
While playing for Islamabad United, Imad Wasim used all his experience to influence the results of all the knock-out matches United played in. Wasim played out man of the match winning knocks in the 2 play-off matches as well as in the finale against Mohammad Rizwan's Multan Sultans.
Imad Wasim was called back alongside Mohammad Amir and top-order batsman Usman Khan to feature in the ICC T20 WC 2024 in the USA & West Indies. Given Wasim and Amir's experience in those conditions, Pakistan were expecting to take the T20 World Cup by storm but their poor performances on the given days led to their departure.
The semi-finalists and runners-up of the previous editions in 2021 and 2022 are out of the tournament without playing the second round. With a lot to work on and a long way to go, Imad Wasim reflected on Pakistan's performances and if that was the lowest they could ever get.
Imad Wasim shares Pakistan's mindset ahead of the obligatory Group match against Ireland
Pakistan are slated to take on Paul Stirling's Ireland, who are winless in the World Cup, in their final Group A match. The Europeans and the Asians will go head-to-head only a month after playing a 3-match T20I series in Dublin which was won by the visitors.
The match is also under the scare of being washed out just like the other Group A matches in Florida got cancelled this week. USA-Ireland and Canada-India were given a point each in their last matchdays and Pakistan might have to settle with that as well if the weather god shows mercy.
On the eve of the match, Imad Wasim spoke about Pakistan's disappointment as well as insights about how they are approaching the Ireland clash. The leftie all-rounder admitted that the 20-team tournament was a hard one for all the players and claimed that everyone in the group was willing to end the event with a win.
"Yes, this is the lowest point. You can't go any lower than this. That's the fact. I know we're out of the tournament and it's hard for the players but in the end, this is an international game, a World Cup game so we won't take anything lightly." - Imad Wasim told reporters.
