Former Pakistan cricketers have questioned all-rounder Imad Wasim’s exclusion from the playing XI for the first T20I against New Zealand on Thursday.
Wasim, who recently reversed retirement, had made a comeback in the national side after impressive performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine.
“Makes no sense to me, honestly, Imad should have played in place of Shadab Khan,” former Test player Iqbal Qasim was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India.
Mohsin Khan, former player, head coach and chief selector, also backed Amir and Imad’s inclusion in the playing XI.
“So much hue and cry over bringing back Imad and Amir and they must get maximum matches to overcome their rustiness in international cricket,” he said.
The first match of the five-T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand was called off, after just two balls, due to persistent rain in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
However, according to The Weather Channel, the chance of rain has reduced ahead of second T20I between the two sides on Saturday.
The chance of rain on April 20 is considerably less at 24 percent as compared to yesterday’s 49 for the same day.
Meanwhile, chances are bright that fans will get to see a complete match on Sunday, when the third T20I will take place, since the weather forecast says that there will be clear skies with chance of rain at only 12 percent.
After the first three matches at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, both sides will move to Lahore, where they will play the remaining two T20Is of the series on 25 and 27 April, respectively.
The series is being broadcast live on Pakistan’s first sports channel Geo Super.
Pakistan vs New Zealand T20I series schedule
April 18 — 1st T20I, Rawalpindi
April 20 — 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi
April 21 — 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi
April 25 — 4th T20I, Lahore
April 27 — 5th T20I, Lahore
- Imad Wasim