Imad Wasim

Syed Imad Wasim Haider is a Pakistani cricketer who represents the national team as a left-handed all-rounder. He is widely recognized as a Twenty20 specialist who has competed for various global franchises. His international career spans from 2015 to 2024.

Early life and education

Wasim was born in Swansea, Wales, on 18 December 1988. His father worked briefly as an engineer in England before the family moved to Pakistan during his early childhood. He grew up in Islamabad, which is where he eventually played all of his first-class cricket. Before committing to professional sports, he was studying medicine. He decided to quit his medical studies when he received an opportunity to play for the Pakistan under-19 team.

Career

He made his Twenty20 International debut against Zimbabwe in Lahore on 24 May 2015. Shortly after, he debuted in One Day Internationals against Sri Lanka on 19 July 2015. He participated in the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 and became the first Pakistani spinner to record a 5-fer in T20Is when he took 5/14 against the West Indies. Wasim was a vital part of the Pakistan squad that won the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy.

In March 2019, he captained the Pakistan ODI team for the first time after Shoaib Malik was ruled out due to injury. He joined the 2019 Cricket World Cup squad and performed well with both bat and ball. During that tournament, he scored 162 runs in 5 innings at an average of 54.00. He also maintained an economy rate of 4.82, which was better than any other Pakistani player in the competition.

The player's international journey involved several periods of retirement and return. He announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on 24 November 2023. However, he withdrew this decision on 23 March 2024 to participate in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. After being named in the squad on 24 May 2024, he achieved an economy rate of 4.00 during the tournament. He eventually announced his retirement from international cricket for a second time in December 2024.

In the franchise circuit, Wasim has played for many teams around the world. He was drafted by the Karachi Kings in 2016 and served as their captain in 2017 and 2023. During his 2023 campaign, he scored 404 runs in 10 matches with a strike rate of 170.46. He remains the only bowler to take a fifer in a Pakistan Super League final.

His global experience includes stints with the Melbourne Renegades in 2020 and the Jamaica Tallawahs in 2021. He also played for the Galle Gladiators in 2022, the Melbourne Stars in 2023, and the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in 2024. In March 2024, he was drafted to the Trent Rockets for The Hundred. He returned to Wales in 2025 to play Vitality Blast cricket for Glamorgan.

Personal life

Wasim married Sannia Ashfaq at the Shah Faisal Mosque in Islamabad in August 2019. The couple welcomed a daughter in 2021 and a son in 2022. Following a divorce from Ashfaq due to long-standing issues, he announced his remarriage to Nyla two months later. He has expressed regret regarding past decisions and maintains a focus on his children and privacy.

Awards and recognition

The Pakistan Cricket Board awarded him a central contract for the 2018–19 season in August 2018. In 2017, he won the Pakistan T20I Player of the Year award. That same year, he finished at the top of the ICC T20I bowling rankings.