Seasoned Pakistani cricketer Imad Wasim has reversed his decision to retire from cricket ahead of T20 World Cup 2024. The all-rounder is expected to join T20 squad for training in coming days.

He made the announcement, four months after retiring from cricket. Wasim was called by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to resolve issues and he was given green signal from the national cricketing body to return to the international setup ahead of World Cup.

In a social media post, the 35-year-old said he decided to come out of retirement and make himself available for Pakistan cricket in the T20 format ahead of leading ICC event. He expressed happiness and gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket for their trust in him, stating that he would give his best for his country.

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Wasim, who made his international debut in May 2015, played 55 ODIs and 66 T20Is for Pakistan, taking 109 wickets and scoring 1,472 runs. He was instrumental in Islamabad United’s victory in the HBL Pakistan Super League final, delivering three match-winning performances.

Pakistan is gearing for upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled from June 1-29. The mega event will be an massive 20-team tournament jointly hosted by the US and the West Indies. The tournament will kick off at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas, Texas, featuring the US against Canada, both making their T20 World Cup debuts.

Imad Wasim Retirement

Pakistani star player Imad Wasim is an impeccable all-rounder who represented Pakistan national cricket team for eight years in T20. He surfaced as leading player in 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, and then raked in central contract by PCB for 2018–19 season.

He led Pakistan ODI team for the first time in March 2019, bur announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on November 24, 2023.

He was born in Wales, but traveled to Pakistan and spent early years in Islamabad. During his teen, he started playing cricket matches and made it to first-class cricket. Imad, a medical aspirant left his studies to play for the under-19 team. The all rounder was then named Pakistan’s T20I Player of the Year.

A shining star in Pakistan’s campaign in 2019 Cricket World Cup, Imad ranked third in the ICC’s ODI all-rounder rankings and seventh in the Twenty20 International bowling rankings.

Over years, he displayed fine skills in cricket and has played for various teams in T20 leagues around the world. Under his watch, Islamabad United was crowned Pakistan Super League season nine.