Watch Imad Wasim abuses Babar Azam fans after guiding Islamabad United to PSL 2024 final

Published - 17 Mar 2024, 11:48 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 10:29 AM

Imad Wasim and Haider Ali
Imad Wasim and Haider Ali(Credits: Instagram)

Former Pakistan All-rounder Imad Wasim played out yet another man of the match-winning knock to help Islamabad United prevail over Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 9 eliminator 2 last night. After getting his team over the victory line, Wasim was heard using abusive and foul language against the fans of Zalmi skipper Babar Azam at the National Stadium in Karachi.

It was a nail-biting contest that went down the wire and ran until the final over. Imad Wasim, who had a splendid performance in Eliminator 1 against Quetta Gladiators, made an important contribution with the bat while chasing a 180+ target.

What did Imad Wasim say?

Imad Wasim was seemingly agitated with a sect of Babar Azam fans who were writing him off in the initial phases of the game before he scored the winning runs. While walking towards the dressing room after that scintillating win, Wasim was heard passing on abusive words to Babar fans.

He was walking alongside number 7 batter Haider Ali and was accompanied by United’s mascot. On their right were Peshawar Zalmi players who were walking off in sheer dejection after giving it their all for the win. Before uttering those words, Imad Wasim had a swift look at the opposing team players including Babar Azam.

Wasim’s remarks were against those who doubted his quality early on in the season after his performance had severely dipped. Imad Wasim had an underwhelming performance in the season until the knockout stages arrived as he turned up and contributed for the team when it mattered the most.

His revival in form started taking place in Islamabad United’s final league stage match against the Multan Sultans when he amassed a quickfire 30 not out.

Then in the 1st eliminator, Wasim might have had a quiet time with the bat, scoring only 4 runs but he still grabbed the man of the match award for registering bowling figures of 3/12 from 4 overs.

The Eliminator 2 match as it went

After winning the toss, Islamabad skipper Shadab Khan asked Peshawar Zalmi to bat first. On the back of Saim Ayub’s 44 balls 73, Babar Azam’s 25 off 22, Mohammad Haris’ 40 off 25, and the blistering finishing acts from Kohler-Cadmore and Aamer Jamal, Zalmi posted 186 as the target. In response, United got off to a crumbling start, losing their first wicket in the last ball of the first over with Alex Hales departing for 1.

Then number 3 batter Agha Salman departed for 5 off 4, skipper Shadab Khan got out for a 2-ball duck while Martin Guptill after a 21-ball 34, got out in the last ball of powerplay. Wicket-keeper Azam Khan received his marching orders from Luke Wood after a 17-ball 22 with Islamabad reduced to 5 wickets for 91 by just the 11th over.

Islamabad’s prospects of reaching the final were extremely low but that’s when Imad Wasim paired up with Haider Ali and took control of things in the middle. The duo stood for a 98-run partnership for the fall of the 6th wicket. While Wasim scored 59* off 40 balls with a strike rate of 147, Haider Ali provided further damage by scoring 52* off just 29 balls at a daunting strike rate of 179.

United then won the contest by the 19th over, winning by 5 wickets and setting up a meeting with Multan Sultans in the PSL 9 final tomorrow.

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