Former Pakistan cricket team captain Rashid Latif has made an appeal to Imad Wasim, the spin-bowling all-rounder, to reconsider his decision to retire from international cricket. Imad Wasim announced his retirement on Friday, November 24, a move that came as a surprise following Pakistan's underwhelming performance in the World Cup 2023, a tournament from which Imad was notably excluded despite Pakistan's apparent need for spinners.
Latif voiced his opinion on a platform, 'X', advocating for Imad's return to international cricket. He emphasized that Imad's departure is a significant loss for Pakistani cricket. Furthermore, Latif highlighted that Mohammad Hafeez, the newly appointed director of Pakistan Cricket, is keen on having Imad back in the team.
"Imad Wasim should withdraw his retirement decision, Pakistan team's best spin bowler is Imad and can help a lot in batting. In the World Cup, if the most effective player of the team will not be there, it is not a loss for Imad, it is a loss for Pakistan. Mohammad Hafeez wants them to bring Imad back. If you want to play leagues, then separate from the central contract, but keep yourself available for the Pakistan team," Latif posted on 'X'.
Imad Wasim made his retirement announcement through 'X', expressing gratitude for the opportunity to represent Pakistan in 121 matches and thanking his fans for their unwavering support.
"In recent days I have been doing a lot of thinking about my international career and I have come to the conclusion that now is the right time for me to announce my retirement from international cricket. I would like to thank the PCB for all their support over the years - 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. It's an exciting time for Pakistan cricket going forwards with new coaches and leadership incoming. I wish all involved every success and I look forward to watching the team excel," Imad wrote on his post shared on 'X'.
In his final appearance for Pakistan, earlier in 2023 against New Zealand, Imad delivered a commendable performance. He scored a brisk 31 runs off just 14 balls and also made a notable impact with the ball, recording figures of 4-0-21-2, even though Pakistan ended up on the losing side. This performance further underscores the value Imad brought to the team, both as a batsman and a bowler.
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