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Is Imad Wasim an ideal replacement for Saeed Ajmal?

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Nikhil_cric

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Ever since Ajmal's ban for chucking, Pakistan have lacked a quality spinner in LOIs who can keep the runs down and take wickets as well. The guy is also better with the bat than Ajmal. Can he play the same role Ajmal did (2009-2014) in the shorter formats?
 
Not sure about ideal, but he's surely a legal replacement.
 
On most days he will go for over 9 runs an over. Akmal was a chucker but he had so much skill. Imad isn't reliable at all.
 
Seems like his arm-balls can be handy in India
 
Mamoon said:
Not sure about ideal, but he's surely a legal replacement.
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Yes Imad got smashed in NZ but we can't hold that against him since most spinners struggle in those conditions. If the pitches have a bit of spin and grip, this guy could do extremely well.
 
Pakistan should look at Zafar and/or Asghar as the long-term spinners in Limited Overs.
 
Asghar was the ideal replacement for Ajmal. Imad is a good replacement for Afridi. Offers more with both bat and bowl
 
Zafar was treated horribly recently.

He looks a good prospect and may blossom into a fine bowler in a year or 2 if Pak stuck with him.

Just bizzare selection policy at the moment.
 
Imad 'll do well in IND - he is a round-arm darter who doesn't turn much; but on Indian wickets, he will be handy.

I think, overall in T20, it's not much of a loss (Imad for Ajmal) - Ajmal was genuine No. 11 & one of the worst fielders around; Imad can be handy with bat & he fields brilliantly.
 
Not Really because Saeed Ajmal used to pick the wickets of big name players in the crunch overs of an innings. It wasnt just the fact that Ajmal was racking up wickets, rather he provided fatal blows to the opposition. Until Imad can do this on a regular basis, you cannot dream that he is that replacement
 
People saying Imad doesn't turn match hence will flop. Last time I checked Ashwin doesn't turn it square either and these are his favourite hunting grounds.
 
No, Imad is not a front line bowler. He's an all-rounder, so use him as an all-rounder. It's his batting ability at 6-7 that's going to be more important.
 
ChachaCricket said:
No, Imad is not a front line bowler. He's an all-rounder, so use him as an all-rounder. It's his batting ability at 6-7 that's going to be more important.
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Agreed. Though I feel his batting ability is limited. I think Imad should work on his bowling which seems to have a lot of potential.


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Imad can thank his lucky stars that he didn't play in Asia Cup or he wouldnt have even made the world cup


Still rate Nawaz more then Imad.
 
MMHS said:
Imad 'll do well in IND - he is a round-arm darter who doesn't turn much; but on Indian wickets, he will be handy.

I think, overall in T20, it's not much of a loss (Imad for Ajmal) - Ajmal was genuine No. 11 & one of the worst fielders around; Imad can be handy with bat & he fields brilliantly.
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Imad is actually a pretty clean striker. Especially coing in at 8
 
IAJ said:
Seems like his arm-balls can be handy in India
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Only if he can mix them with some deliveries that actually spin. In the PSL he was bowling all arm balls and the batsman were hitting him all over the park once they realised he wasn't offering much else. Maybe I just caught him on a bad couple of performances, but I didn't see any turn.
 
90MPH said:
Zafar was treated horribly recently.

He looks a good prospect and may blossom into a fine bowler in a year or 2 if Pak stuck with him.

Just bizzare selection policy at the moment.
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I like Zafar Gohar. I think he is 4 years away from being a permanent fixture in our team. Having said he needs to work his *** off at domestic circuit and master the art spin bowling. His batting will naturally improve with time.


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He is a momentum player...positive signs for Pak as he performed today
 
gazza619 said:
Agreed. Though I feel his batting ability is limited. I think Imad should work on his bowling which seems to have a lot of potential.


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His batting is anything but limited. Give him a long enough run at 6 and you'll see what he's capable of.
 
aliasad1998 said:
Imad is actually a pretty clean striker. Especially coing in at 8
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Indeed, particularly if he is picked for the right position. For example, against BD, PAK 'll face at least 8 overs of spin (most likely Left-arm spin of Sak & Arafat) - Eden squire boundary is not that long - if PAK has the intelligence (or guts to remove MoHa from his preferred spot), they can take a chance with Imad when the spinners are at tandem. Problem is, T20 is all about flexibility - but, if Imad is sent as a floater at say 3 or 4 & he gets out for say 4 (3), trying to slog (or implement the strategy) - only reality 'll remain is Average 4.00, SR 133.33 - and he might be slotted at 9 next day (or even might be dropped) - that's Pakistan's THICK TANK for you. This is the reason why Umar is played at 6/7 - history tells that, Umar had a brain **** at 3/4 sometimes in 1857, so after 350+ in 8 innings at 150 SR, 4 weeks back is not enough to slot him at 3.
 
ChachaCricket said:
His batting is anything but limited. Give him a long enough run at 6 and you'll see what he's capable of.
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Imad did have an ordinary PSL. But you have a point on giving him a consistent batting number. It seems like all of our batsmen swap their batting positions every now and then. This is not good for the stability of a team which is struggling to score runs. For example Umar Akmal recently scored a 50 in Asia Cup at number 4. Next game we sent him at 5 for no reason. Likewise we are trying very hard to ruin the confidence of Sarfaraz by batting him at all sorts of positions.


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Ajmal at his best was a different class and his consistency was incredible.

Not only did he take key wickets he had the ability to contain batsmen and rarely bowled anything loose.
 
ChachaCricket said:
No, Imad is not a front line bowler. He's an all-rounder, so use him as an all-rounder. It's his batting ability at 6-7 that's going to be more important.
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Not many people understand this lol. Same case with Nawaz, they think he is a specialist bowler after PSL and a tailender :facepalm:
 
Suleiman said:
Not many people understand this lol. Same case with Nawaz, they think he is a specialist bowler after PSL and a tailender :facepalm:
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Bits and pieces cricketers are not all rounders - just because Nawaz and Imad can't fulfil the role they have been given doesn't make them something that they're not.
 
Haroon786 said:
Bits and pieces cricketers are not all rounders - just because Nawaz and Imad can't fulfil the role they have been given doesn't make them something that they're not.
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In either case it's too soon to label them anything. Just after the Zimbabwe and SL series Imad was being hailed as future t20 captain, all it took (at international level) was the 2nd NZ t20 and the 1st ODI before he came under fire and was being asked to be dropped. Nawaz as well, he has literally just got into the international level act, doesn't deserve any labels whether it's greater allrounder than Imran or bits and pieces - there has to be a middle ground with Pak fans.

Mitchell Marsh was also being called bits and pieces on PP not too long ago, and he has eased into his role as allrounder slowly (as far as LOIs go). Not saying Imad or Nawaz will go through a similar path, but they need to be given a chance.
 
Suleiman said:
In either case it's too soon to label them anything. Just after the Zimbabwe and SL series Imad was being hailed as future t20 captain, all it took (at international level) was the 2nd NZ t20 and the 1st ODI before he came under fire and was being asked to be dropped. Nawaz as well, he has literally just got into the international level act, doesn't deserve any labels whether it's greater allrounder than Imran or bits and pieces - there has to be a middle ground with Pak fans.

Mitchell Marsh was also being called bits and pieces on PP not too long ago, and he has eased into his role as allrounder slowly (as far as LOIs go). Not saying Imad or Nawaz will go through a similar path, but they need to be given a chance.
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I agree that neither Nawaz and Imad shouldn't be labelled all rounders (my intial point), however, at this point in the development of their careers, it is more than fair enough to say that neither of their two main facets is advanced enough to merit a selection in the XI and perform consistently for the country and therefore, there is a very credible basis to call them bits and pieces until they prove otherwise.
 
You don't just replace a bowler like Ajmal, especially in LOIs. He was on the same tier of ability as Murali and Saqlain, in ODIs. Imad is a decent player but unless he improves his batting, I don't see him staying in the team for long.
 
the only spinner in Pakistan who has the ability to have nearly the same impact as Ajmal in the ODIs is clearly Yasir Shah. But for some reason he can have the same success in LOIs as his Test matches. He will definately be given a long run in ODIs after his ban is over then we will see where he stands.

Imad is a decent cricketer. Can be lethal on his day with both bat & bowl. But could also lose you the match on other days. He has more potential to become Afridi's replacement than Ajmal's, but he has gotta come a VERY long way, and his attitude is clearly not putting him on the right way.
 
Uh nope. We are screwed in that spin dept in the absence of a pre 15 degree Ajmal and Hafeez.

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Bilal7 said:
You don't just replace a bowler like Ajmal, especially in LOIs. He was on the same tier of ability as Murali and Saqlain, in ODIs. Imad is a decent player but unless he improves his batting, I don't see him staying in the team for long.
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Except he started chucking.
 
Mamoon said:
Pakistan should look at Zafar and/or Asghar as the long-term spinners in Limited Overs.
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ya dont get why those two were not there sami is useless why do we need so much pacers we need to attack win spin plus amir in this WC and hope akmal hafeez afridi and sarf click with the bat
 
Bilal7 said:
You don't just replace a bowler like Ajmal, especially in LOIs. He was on the same tier of ability as Murali and Saqlain, in ODIs. Imad is a decent player but unless he improves his batting, I don't see him staying in the team for long.
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Yes, Pakistan will struggle to produce a javelin thrower like Ajmal.

However, we are talking about bowlers here.
 
Imagine if Saeed Ajmal was bowling on this Nagpur pitch (obviously with his illegal bowling action).
 
Abdul said:
Imagine if Saeed Ajmal was bowling on this Nagpur pitch (obviously with his illegal bowling action).
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Would have averaged lower than the 9.xx he did when he played India in a bilateral series in their backyard.
 
Bilal7 said:
Never bowled an illegal delivery in his life. A champion bowler, MashAllah. Thank you, Ajmal.
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You said Ajmal was bowling the same way in 2014 as he did in 2008, and under the old rules, he was cleared so he wasn't officially chucking.

However, the new rules were not imposed the day he was suspended for chucking in 2014, so that means that during the period between the imposition of the new rules and Ajmal getting reported, he must have been chucking since he has been bowling with the same action throughout?

So how come Ajmal bhai the champion never bowled an illegal delivery in his life?
 
Mamoon said:
You said Ajmal was bowling the same way in 2014 as he did in 2008, and under the old rules, he was cleared so he wasn't officially chucking.

However, the new rules were not imposed the day he was suspended for chucking in 2014, so that means that during the period between the imposition of the new rules and Ajmal getting reported, he must have been chucking since he has been bowling with the same action throughout?

So how come Ajmal bhai the champion never bowled an illegal delivery in his life?
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Nope. The ICC allowed him to bowl in the period between the new rules being implemented and Ajmal being found to be over the limit.

Ajju the champ never bowled a single illegal delivery in his life. If he had, the ICC would have to wipe all of his records and he wouldn't be chilling in the top ten ODI bowlers ranking.
 
Bilal7 said:
Nope. The ICC allowed him to bowl in the period between the new rules being implemented and Ajmal being found to be over the limit.

Ajju the champ never bowled a single illegal delivery in his life. If he had, the ICC would have to wipe all of his records and he wouldn't be chilling in the top ten ODI bowlers ranking.
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:facepalm:

And how did he ICC found him to be over the limit?

He was bowling with an illegal action, and thus, was bowling illegal deliveries. Hence, to say that he never bowled a single delivery in his life is a joke.

Just admit that you are a loyalist who will never accept that your hero is a chucker.
 
Mamoon said:
:facepalm:

And how did he ICC found him to be over the limit?

He was bowling with an illegal action, and thus, was bowling illegal deliveries. Hence, to say that he never bowled a single delivery in his life is a joke.

Just admit that you are a loyalist who will never accept that your hero is a chucker.
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Thing is ajmal was tinkered and tested for a long time. There were suspicions his entire career, yet he always passed ICC's test. Therefore the bowling he did between then and being banned was legal according to the ICC.

It was ICC who changed their testing procedures or made it more strict, etc...

It was after that ICC deemed Ajmal's action illegal.

Being a chucker and having an illegal action are two different things remember that.

Because even murali might have failed today's testing standards, but while he was playing ICC deemed him legal to bowl.
 
blackanhyellow said:
Thing is ajmal was tinkered and tested for a long time. There were suspicions his entire career, yet he always passed ICC's test. Therefore the bowling he did between then and being banned was legal according to the ICC.

It was ICC who changed their testing procedures or made it more strict, etc...

It was after that ICC deemed Ajmal's action illegal.

Being a chucker and having an illegal action are two different things remember that.

Because even murali might have failed today's testing standards, but while he was playing ICC deemed him legal to bowl.
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Yes, but to say that he has never bowled an illegal delivery in his life is totally absurd, especially when you also claim that he has bowled with the same action throughout his career.

The new rules/test procedures weren't implemented the day Ajmal was reported, so when the umpire saw that his action was illegal, he was obviously bowling illegal deliveries (according to the new rules) at that time.
 
Imad is the replacement of hafeez the outstanding bowler. Can contain with an odd wicket here and there. But he needs to improve his game awareness a bit.
 
Mamoon said:
Yes, but to say that he has never bowled an illegal delivery in his life is totally absurd, especially when you also claim that he has bowled with the same action throughout his career.

The new rules/test procedures weren't implemented the day Ajmal was reported, so when the umpire saw that his action was illegal, he was obviously bowling illegal deliveries (according to the new rules) at that time.
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You make a good point, but I would argue that it was not the first time an umpire called his action. He was called by umpires before after which he passed all of ICC's tests.

It was just this particular time his bowling was deemed illegal.

The ICC did not give a prior warning that they were about to become more strict in their testing standards. Hence Ajmal kept bowling like he was bowling prior to the "rule change".

I would agree with your point had ICC given a prior warning saying "all chuckers beware we are clamping down on you".

Even ICC takes this stance, otherwise they would take all of ajmal's wickets away during the period he was getting his action tested.
 
What an absolutely facile discussion that already has countless threads with numerous posts from Mamoon. I think it's fair to say that you've said all that can be said in the subject now let's turn to the main thrust of this thread about Imad wasims contributions in this team as a main spinner. Can he be one...no. He has nowhere near the level of threat an unorthodox spinner has (I.e akmal or ashwin or mend is)

Can he be pak's vettori? Only time will tell.

Can he be a shakib ul Hassan? Yes I think so but shakib had to play a lot of matches and get real experience to become the player that he has.
 
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Today first time I say Immad flighting the ball and was bowling in low 80s. That is good progress, his main problem in last series in PSL was that he was too one dimensional, darting every ball... Today he was mixing it well...Did anybody else notice that?
 
yasir said:
Today first time I say Immad flighting the ball and was bowling in low 80s. That is good progress, his main problem in last series in PSL was that he was too one dimensional, darting every ball... Today he was mixing it well...Did anybody else notice that?
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Yes, but he still wasn't getting any real turn. Without it I think batsmen will feel confident that they can just smash him through the line once they realise there's no real danger of the ball spinning away sharply from the right hander.
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
Yes, but he still wasn't getting any real turn. Without it I think batsmen will feel confident that they can just smash him through the line once they realise there's no real danger of the ball spinning away sharply from the right hander.
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Only way left arm spinners were getting turn here were by bowling much slower, at low 70s... I saw few Shakib's turn at 74/73, that is too slow to be of any practical use.... Leg spinner is different...

Afridi sliders are dangerous, nobody can cut it from AB to Kohli, many times batsmen fall for it, today BD's inform Shabir fell on that one.


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I notice Imad Wasim is born in Swansea, presumably a lot of people here will be infuriated at Pakistan 'poaching' cricketers from England. Or is that only when England play someone born elsewhere :asif?
 
HitWicket said:
I notice Imad Wasim is born in Swansea, presumably a lot of people here will be infuriated at Pakistan 'poaching' cricketers from England. Or is that only when England play someone born elsewhere :asif?
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Moved to Pakistan when he was very young(under 5, not sure exactly how old) and lived here his whole life, went through the local domestic structure and captained Pakistan under 19 team in the 2008 world cup so he's about as much an import as Khwaja is for Australia.

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DW44 said:
Moved to Pakistan when he was very young(under 5, not sure exactly how old) and lived here his whole life, went through the local domestic structure and captained Pakistan under 19 team in the 2008 world cup so he's about as much an import as Khwaja is for Australia.

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Moved when young and went through the local domestic cricket system? Exact same statement holds true for Strauss, Roy, Stokes, Dernbach etc. but no one minded having a moan about that. Just playing devils advocate here :D.
 
He is an average spinner. You need attacking spinners to win you matches in India.
 
HitWicket said:
Moved when young and went through the local cricket system? Exact same statement holds true for Strauss, Roy, Stokes, Dernbach etc. but no one minded having a moan about that. Just playing devils advocate here :D.
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Never seen anyone have a go at England for poaching Strauss or Owais Shah(another player born elsewhere but raised in England). It's usually for players like Morgan and Pietersen who were born, raised and developed in other countries and picked up off the shelf.

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Poor Finish by Maddy.


Maddy is a 2-3 overs bowler against good batting sides. Not a 4 overs bowler.
 
nowhere near Ajmals level. Ajmal had a great aura about him. And could control a game in LOIS. Imad can't do that. He is just a one dimensional darter. Unlike Ajmal who could spin it both ways.

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Ajmal at his peak was on a different level. Tough to replace him. Imad would be lucky to reach near Qadir.
 
shah_1 said:
If he manages average around 33-34 with bat in ODI then his place in the side is justified.
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Yes at number 6 with a SR of 95 plus.

Batting can allow him to retain his place.

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Asghar should be played as our main LOI spinner. he can actually get revs on the ball. Imad is a one dimensional darter who can only do well against minnows.

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He doesn't chuck, atleast not so far.. and keeps the runs in check. So a reasonable replacement given our dearth in spinning department(or forced dearth if not real dearth)
 
He is a joke of a cricketer. Just a slightly better version of Saad Nasim.

However, he should be made captain according to some here like [MENTION=139353]ChachaCricket[/MENTION]

I doubt if even Oman and Hong Kong will make him captain.
 
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