Imad holds whole team responsible for worst-ever WC performance

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida: All-rounder Imad Wasim lamented missing golden opportunities to achieve easy winning targets, openly admitting that every team member was responsible for the worst-ever performance in the T20 World Cup. In a pre-match (Pakistan-Ireland) press conference on Saturday, Imad said that every member of the team accepted this historic failure, calling on the fans that going out of the World Cup T20 was depressing for everyone . “I am here to accept in front of fans that it was the worst ever performance and all team members are equally responsible. It is a team sport and as such no one can be singled out. Every player is responsible for this loss.”

He termed the T20 World Cup performance as the worst ever. “We cannot go lower than this. It is the worst-ever performance by the Pakistan team. We don’t deserve to make it to the next round. We have the potential but we played the worst cricket.”

On his failure to take the team home against India, he said, that when wickets started tumbling, it was his responsibility to take the team home. “The 17th over was crucial to Pakistan’s perspective. We should have won the match easily. Both matches were in our grasp. I still feel I had the opportunity to finish the game. I did it many times and hoped at that time that I would do it again by taking the game deep. Patel bowled well and did not allow me to take him on. The wicket was also too tricky which added to the pressure. Still, I feel that it was an easy target to chase. We should have ended up winning both games.”

Imad said that Pakistan cricket required revamping. “This defeat could have come as a blessing as there is a dire need to revamp Pakistan cricket as per the modern requirements. The PCB chairman will have to make concrete decisions. Whatever he decides everyone will have to follow that.”

Imad said team members were as upset as every fan was. “We are so depressed and concerned. Fans should realize that this defeat has hurt us badly.”

He rejected the general impression that he was unfit going into the World Cup T20. “There is no truth in these speculations. People have wrongly attributed rumors to me. These are upsetting and wrong. We have families and followers. Please don’t disturb their emotions.”

The all-rounder said his team had failed to play fire with fire. “It is a mind game. We should be strong enough to take on the best.”

On the match against Ireland to be played on Sunday, he said after all it will be a World Cup match. “The team would go all out for the win. I hope the match will go ahead as planned. Had the whole ground in Florida been covered, I am hopeful matches could have been organised. The ICC must look into this for future engagements.”