Imad Wasim

Early and personal life

Wasim was born in Swansea, Wales. His father briefly worked in England as an engineer. Wasim's parents moved to Pakistan when he was at a very early age, Wasim growing up in Islamabad, and he consequently played all first-class cricket there. He was studying medicine before his career in cricket, but quit when he got a chance to play for the under-19 Pakistan team.

In August 2019, Wasim married Sannia Ashfaq at the Shah Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.

The couple had their first child, a daughter, in 2021. Their second child, a son, was born in 2022. They are Divorced on 28 Dec 2025

International career

He made his Twenty20 International debut for Pakistan against Zimbabwe in Lahore on 24 May 2015. He made his One Day International debut for Pakistan against Sri Lanka on 19 July 2015. He was selected in the Pakistan squad for the 2016 ICC World Twenty20. Later in 2016, he became the 1st Pakistani spinner to take a 5-fer in T20Is as he recorded figures of 5/14 against the Windies. Wasim was a regular member of the winning Pakistan team in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. He also won Pakistan's T20I Player of the Year award in 2017 as he finished the year top of the ICC T20I bowling rankings.

In March 2019, Wasim was named in Pakistan's ODI squad for their series against Australia. Pakistan's captain Shoaib Malik was ruled out of the fourth ODI due to injury, with Wasim named as captain of the team in his place.

The following month, he was named in Pakistan's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. He had a great tournament with both the ball and the bat as he scored 162 runs in 5 innings at an average of 54.00 and a healthy strike rate of 118.24 as well as chipping in with 2 wickets with an economy rate of 4.82 which was better than any Pakistani at the tournament.

, he is ranked third in the International Cricket Council's One Day International all-rounder rankings and seventh in the Twenty20 International bowling rankings.

In June 2020, he was named in a 29-man squad for Pakistan's tour to England during the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2021, he was named in Pakistan's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

In May 2024, he was named in Pakistan's squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.

On March 23, 2024, Wasim reversed his previous retirement from international cricket. This decision came after meeting with the PCB officials regarding his return to the national team for the T20 World Cup scheduled for June 2024. The decision is also due to his PSL 9 form in the later half of tournament that helped Islamabad United to lift the title for the third time.

On 13 December 2024, Imad announced retirement from international cricket for the second time.

Twenty20 franchise career

Wasim is considered a Twenty20 specialist.

In 2016 Karachi Kings picked him in the draft. In 2017 Karachi Kings announced Imad as the new captain, but in 2022 they made Babar Azam the new captain. In 2023, Wasim was named as captain again. Imad had a great tournament with bat scoring 404 runs with SR of 170.46 in just 10 matches. In 2024, Karachi Kings released him in the exchange of Hasan Ali. Wasim joined Islamabad United as a mentor. He is the only bowler to take a fifer in a Pakistan Super League final.

In 2020 Melbourne Renegades signed Wasim for the Big Bash League. In 2021 Jamaica Tallawahs signed him for the Caribbean Premier League.

In 2022 Wasim was picked by Galle Gladiators for the 2022 Lanka Premier League.

In 2023 he was signed by Melbourne Stars. In 2024 he was signed by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. On 20 March 2024 Wasim was drafted to Trent Rockets for the 2024 The Hundred.

In 2025 Wasim returned to Wales to play Vitality Blast cricket for Glamorgan.

Television

Notes

References

References

1. "Profile".
2. "PCB Central Contracts 2018–19". Pakistan Cricket Board.
3. "New central contracts guarantee earnings boost for Pakistan players". ESPN Cricinfo.
4. "Malik ruled out, Imad Wasim to captain Pakistan against Australia today". Geo TV.
5. "Imad Wasim retires from international cricket". ESPNcricinfo.
6. "Imad Wasim comes out of retirement for T20 World Cup". ESPNcricinfo.
7. "Pakistan all-rounder reverses retirement decision ahead of T20 World Cup". International Cricket Council.
8. "Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim go back to international retirement".
9. "Born in one country, played for another". International Cricket Council.
10. (29 August 2016). "Reporters turn Imad Wasim press conference into background interview - The Express Tribune".
11. (29 August 2016). "Reporters turn Imad Wasim press conference into background interview".
12. "Imad Wasim". Instonians.
13. "Born in one country, played for another".
14. "Pakistan cricket star Imad Wasim and Sannia Ashfaq's wedding in pictures".
15. "Imad Wasim, wife welcome baby daughter". (March 4, 2021). link
16. (August 27, 2022). "Imad Wasim and Sannia Ashfaq welcome baby boy".
17. "Zimbabwe tour of Pakistan, 2nd T20I: Pakistan v Zimbabwe at Lahore, May 24, 2015". ESPN Cricinfo.
18. "Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI: Sri Lanka v Pakistan at Colombo (RPS), Jul 19, 2015". ESPN Cricinfo.
19. Rehman, Sajawal. "PCB Awards The Best Players of 2017 [Pictures & Player Reactions]".
20. "Pakistan squad for Australia ODIs announced". Pakistan Cricket Board.
21. (29 March 2019). "Injured Shoaib Malik out of fourth ODI against Australia". Business Recorder.
22. "Mohammad Amir left out of Pakistan's World Cup squad". ESPN Cricinfo.
23. "Amir left out of Pakistan's World Cup squad". International Cricket Council.
24. "ICC Cricket World Cup, 2019 - Pakistan Cricket Team Records & Stats {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com".
25. "ICC Cricket World Cup, 2019 - Pakistan Cricket Team Records & Stats {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com".
26. "Live Cricket Scores & News International Cricket Council".
27. "Live Cricket Scores & News International Cricket Council".
28. "Haider Ali the new face as Pakistan name 29-man touring party for England". ESPN Cricinfo.
29. "Haider Ali named in 29-player squad for England tour". Pakistan Cricket Board.
30. "Sharjeel Khan dropped from T20 World Cup squad; Asif Ali, Khushdil Shah make 15-man cut". ESPN Cricinfo.
31. "Pakistan Squad for ICC Men's T20I World Cup 2024".
32. (2024-03-23). "‘Pakistan comes first’: Imad Wasim takes back retirement in lead up to T20 World Cup".
33. (2024-03-20). "Imad Wasim rises to the occasion as Islamabad United lift third PSL title".
34. "Amir and Imad retire from Pakistan duty again". BBC Sport.
35. "Pakistan all-rounder announces second international retirement in 13 months". Wisden.
36. (13 June 2025). "Welsh-born Pakistani Spinner Imad Wasim Joins Glamorgan for the Vitality Blast".
37. Nadeem, Syed Omer. "The Ultimate Muqabla Is Almost Here And It Will Enthrall You".