Injury sidelines Imad Wasim for Pakistan’s first World Cup match

WEB DESK: Imad Wasim will miss out Pakistan’s first match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against the United States (US) due to a side injury, captain Babar Azam confirmed on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old is the main all-rounder of the Pakistan men’s national cricket team. His absence will be a huge blow to a team already struggling with form and consistency.

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Pakistan faces hosts US in their first match of the tournament on Thursday. Despite Pakistan’s recent series loss against England, the US team caused a major upset twice by defeating Bangladesh.

The US also won against rivals Canada in their opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Imad Wasim is a left-handed all-rounder. He debuted for Pakistan in the 2006 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, captaining the team later in the subsequent edition.

He made his international debut in 2015, replacing the suspended Saeed Ajmal. His first-class career included a double-hundred in 2014.

Wasim debuted in T20Is in 2009 and represented Pakistan in 2016 ICC World Twenty20. He contributed to Pakistan’s victory in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy.

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In March 2019, he captained the Pakistan one-day international (ODI) team for the first time.

Wasim initially retired from international cricket in November 2023 but reversed his decision in March 2024 to participate in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.