Five-star Imad hopes to keep shining

DUBLIN: Lost somewhere in the excitement of Sharjeel Khan’s sizzling 152 was Imad Wasim’s maiden five-wicket haul on Thursday when Pakistan recorded what was their biggest One-day International (ODI) victory in terms of runs.

Sharjeel’s blitz helped Pakistan floor Ireland by 255 runs but a win by such a huge margin might not have been possible had Imad not picked up an impressive haul of 5-14. Together with comeback pacer Umar Gul (3-23), Imad bowled out the home team for a paltry 82 after Pakistan had posted 337 in a match hat was reduced to 47 overs because of wet conditions.

His figures in the match are the best ever by a Pakistan left-arm bowler. Imad bettered the great Wasim Akram’s 5 for 15 which were the previous best by a Pakistan left-arm bowler in ODIs.

All of that was overshadowed as the star of the match was Sharjeel because of his big-hitting prowess.

But Imad is pleased to have played a role in Pakistan’s record-breaking win.

“The important thing is that we won the match and won it by a very big margin,” said the Swansea-born Imad, who has played seven ODIs and 11 Twenty20 Internationals for Pakistan.

Imad, 27, represented Jamaica Tallawahas in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) this season. The all-rounder who featured for Karachi Kings in the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) said that the CPL experience helped him going into the series against Ireland.

“It was a learning experience at CPL,” he said. “I was in good rhythm and that certainly helped (in the first ODI) against Ireland,” added Imad, who began his U19 career as a pacer but switched to left-arm spin bowling. Also a capable middle-order batman, Imad was part of the U19 team that won the ICC U19 World Cup in 2006 and later captained the country in the next edition of the tournament.

Alongside Imad, another young all-rounder – Mohammad Nawaz — also sparkled in Thursday’s win against Ireland. Nawaz, also a left-hander, hit 53 off 50 balls to make his presence felt.

Asked if the presence of another similar all-rounder in the playing eleven made him insecure, Imad replied: “It’s all about how you perform. We are all there to give our best for the country.”

Imad said that he was focused on giving his best for Pakistan. “I want to make full use of the opportunity I have received to play for Pakistan.”