Imad Wasim declares availability for national T20 cricket

Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim on Saturday declared his availability for the national Twenty20 cricket, which confirms his participation in the ICC T20I World Cup 2024. 

The seasoned cricketer said that he has reconsidered his retirement plans after meeting  after a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials.

"I am happy to announce that pursuant to meeting PCB officials, I have reconsidered my retirement and am delighted to declare my availability for Pakistan cricket in T20i format leading up to ICC T20i World Cup 2024," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 

Imad thanked PCB for "reposing trust" in him, and pledged to give my very best to bring laurels to my country. 

Pakistan comes first, he added. 

The 34-year-old cricketer last year in November announced his retirement from international cricket, saying it was the right time for him to end his stint as an international cricketer.

“In recent days I have been doing a lot of thinking about my international career and I have come to the conclusion that now it’s the right time for me to announce my retirement from international cricket," he had stated in a post on X. 

“It has truly been an honour to represent Pakistan. Each of my 121 appearances across the ODI and T20I formats was a dream come true,” Wasim noted.

The cricketer had said that he would look forward to focussing on the "next stage of my playing career away from the international stage.”

Imad, who made his international debut in May 2015, had emerged as a prominent cricketer due to his all-round performances in 55 ODIs and 66 T20Is.

He has been a crucial member of the Pakistan team over the years and was a member of the 2017 Champions Trophy-winning squad. He also played in the 2016 T20 World Cup, 2019 World Cup, and 2021 T20 World Cup.

Moreover, Imad performed exceedingly well during the recently-concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine, leading his side, Islamabad United, to the title.

Imad, who bagged a historic five-wicket haul in the final of PSL 9 against Multan Sultans, was adjudged player of the match as Islamabad United lifted their first PSL trophy since 2018 and third overall.

Imad also became the first player in PSL history to win Player-of-the-Match awards in all three playoff games.