Saleem Malik Questions Imad Wasim’s Defensive Approach After India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup Match

June 10, 2024 0 831

Malik criticized Imad Wasim for playing cautiously to avoid getting out and focusing on improving his batting average instead of taking risks to score runs.

In the high-stakes T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan, former cricketer Saleem Malik criticized Pakistan’s batting strategy after their narrow loss to India. Despite bowling out India for a low total of 119, Pakistan failed to chase down 120 on a challenging Nassau County track, losing by 6 runs.

Malik expressed disappointment with Imad Wasim’s cautious approach while batting at No. 5, scoring just 15 runs off 23 balls. He argued that Wasim prioritized not getting out and improving his average rather than taking risks to score.

“He [Imad Wasim] made sure he doesn’t get out and keep bettering his batting average. If I’m a batter and I’m not getting runs then I would try taking risk, no matter if I get out. But he kept on eating up deliveries and then changed the ends with singles,” Malik said.

The former cricketer also questioned the decision to promote Shadab Khan ahead of Iftikhar Ahmed, noting that Khan’s previous form against the USA didn’t justify the move.

“Imad Wasim didn’t get to play much cricket since the last PSL. Shadab Khan, who scored 40-odd against the USA in the last game, shouldn’t have been promoted up the order. Sorry, but I would like to question why he [Imad Wasim] was promoted up the order, given that he hadn’t got enough chances before [the World Cup]. The batter should at least have tried something instead of playing dot balls,” he added.

"آؤٹ بھی نہیں ہوا، ایوریج بھی بڑھاتا رہا" عماد وسیم نے جان بوجھ کر میچ ہروایا، سلیم ملک کا انکشاف۔۔۔!!!#PakvsInd pic.twitter.com/gT92IJoo8Z
— Mughees Ali (@mugheesali81) June 9, 2024

Indian pacers, led by Jasprit Bumrah (3/14) and Hardik Pandya (2/24), scripted India’s narrow victory over arch-rivals Pakistan. Their spells caused Pakistan to lose wickets quickly, restricting them to 113/7 in 20 overs. India’s next match is against the USA on Wednesday, June 12, while Pakistan faces Canada on Tuesday, June 11.