Durham show Imad Wasim interest - but clock is ticking on world's No.1 Twenty20 bowler
Durham have warned they cannot wait long to sign the world’s leading Twenty20 bowler.
The Riversiders have offered Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim the chance to play in this season’s Twenty20 competition.
But with the deal subject to a visa, coach Jon Lewis is not prepared to let it drag on to the point where a deal no longer becomes worthwhile.
Durham’s next game is at home to Leicestershire on Thursday, and Wasim is signed to play for champions Jamaica Tallawahs in the Caribbean Premier League, which restarts on August 4, the night Durham host Yorkshire. They have six games before that.
“He’s a player we’ve spoken to but there are a few hurdles to overcome,” admitted Lewis.
“If we can’t get those hurdles navigated in the next six or seven days, ten at most, we won’t be pursuing it, I don’t think.
“At this stage he would only be available for the next five games. He’s a quality player we would like to be involved with but there comes a point where it’s not worthwhile.”
Wasim is ranked the world’s No.1 Twenty20 bowler, having taken 23 wickets in 19 internationals at an average of 16.
His only Twenty20 half-century came in domestic cricket. Pakistani players have not featured in the Indian Premier League – widely regarded as the world’s best domestic Twenty20 league – since 2008 for political reasons and he Wasim not played in the Big Bash.
The 28-year-old has not played Test cricket, but has made 28 one day international appearances.
“He’s an all-rounder with lots of experience of bowling in the powerplays in limited-overs cricket,” said Lewis. “Even though he’s a left-arm spinner (and in England the “death” overs are more usually bowled by seamers) it’s an area he could strengthen us in.”
A woefully inexperienced Durham side are already seven points off the pace in the race to qualify for the quarter-finals. Last season’s runners-up were deducted four points this year for running up unmanageable debts of £7.5m, and have lost their opening two of 14 games. There are two points for a win, with the top four northern teams going into the quarter-finals.
Teams are allowed two overseas players in the competition. Durham are the only county not to have used any – or a “Kolpak” player – after opener Tom Latham joined with a stress fracture of the foot picked up with New Zealand at the Champions Trophy.
“We anticipate Tom being available soon and we had no intention of playing two overseas players in this year’s competition,” Lewis explained. “If they were both available at the same time we would look at it but it’s not what we were looking to do.”
Durham lost a badly rain-affected game at Second XI Championship game at Derbyshire this week but back-to-back Twenty20 games against Warwickshire at South Northumberland on Monday should offer valuable game-time to those who need it.
“The second team didn’t get as much cricket in as we’d hoped against Derbyshire but there’s no doubt that going straight from Chesterfield (where Durham played a County Championship game which ran until the Thursday) into our first T20 game (at home to Lancashire on the Friday night) we didn’t look as prepared as Lancashire,” Lewis said.
“They’d had 10 days without a game and I think that showed, not that it’s an excuse. I thought we improved against Northamptonshire (two days later) but more game-time for a few guys next week should help a lot.”
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/cricket/durham-show-imad-wasim-interest-13335154
