Real reason behind Imad Wasim’s retirement reversal

• Imad Wasim announced his decision to come out of retirement.
• He is set to join national team ahead of New Zealand series.
• Ahaheen Afridi was the factor for Imad’s reversal of retirement.

Imad Wasim, the all-rounder, announced on Saturday his decision to come out of retirement and make himself available for the Pakistan T20I team in the lead-up to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Imad is set to rejoin the national team in the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand. He had a meeting with PCB’s CEO Salman Naseer and Chief Selector Wahab Riaz the day before, where he outlined his terms for reconsidering his retirement. It is understood that Imad’s return is dependent on the assurance of his inclusion in the squad until the next World Cup, an assurance that Wahab Riaz provided.

Imad’s decision to retire from international cricket was due to difficulties in obtaining NOCs (No Objection Certificates) to participate in franchise leagues. He expressed to Salman Naseer the importance of fulfilling various contractual obligations beyond international commitments, thereby asking the board to enable his participation in leagues while also committing to be available for national duty when needed. Moreover, Imad showed no interest in obtaining a central contract, stressing his main goal of serving Pakistan’s interests and aiming to secure a World Cup win for the team. He signaled his willingness to play without a formal contract, showing his dedication to the national cause.

While board officials have recognized Imad’s position on contractual matters, a final decision on his contract status is pending consultation with Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. It’s noteworthy that players typically receive lower-tier compensation without a central contract.

A key factor in Imad’s decision to reverse his retirement was the encouragement and persuasion from Pakistan T20I captain Shaheen Afridi. During PSL season 9, Afridi highlighted the importance of Imad’s role in the national team setup and encouraged him to rethink his retirement decision. Afridi’s continuous communication, reaching out to Imad several times in recent days, was instrumental in inspiring Imad to reverse his retirement and recommit to international cricket.

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