Imad Wasim faced criticism from teammates and commentators after letting a ball reach the boundary without trying to stop it. This incident upset bowler Mohammad Amir, leading to Wasim being moved to a different fielding position.
During the match against the Barbados Royals on September 1, in the 14th over, Quinton de Kock hit a slower short ball towards the third-man area. With the Royals close to victory, the ball moved slowly toward the boundary, giving Wasim ample time to intercept it. However, to everyone’s surprise, he did not attempt to stop it. Instead, he jogged casually, reaching the ball only after it had crossed the boundary.
The Barbados Royals quickly wrapped up the chase of 146 runs, with de Kock remaining unbeaten on 87 off 45 deliveries. This marked the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons’ third consecutive loss in the CPL 2024 season. The team had previously lost their first two matches on the last ball and is set to face the St. Lucia Kings on September 3.
Speculations Surrounding Wasim’s Effort
It’s unclear whether Wasim’s lack of effort was due to the game’s inevitable outcome or if he was dealing with an injury. Although he sustained an injury during the later stages of The Hundred 2024 Men’s Competition, he recovered in time to play through the league’s final phase.
Imad Wasim has had a decent start in CPL 2024 despite this incident. He recently returned to international cricket, representing Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup after coming out of retirement. He also played for the Trent Rockets in The Hundred 2024. In the CPL, Wasim has taken four wickets in three matches and contributed a crucial 40-run knockoff of 21 balls in a recent game against the Guyana Amazon Warriors.
Despite the controversy surrounding his scoring efforts, Imad Wasim remains an important player for the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. His contributions with the bat and the ball highlight his importance to the team, even as they struggle in the early stages of CPL 2024.
