Is Imad Wasim underrated as a batter?

[Titan24]

Imad Wasim averages 40 in FC cricket, 37 in List A cricket (Sr of 100) and 44 in ODI cricket (Sr of 110.29). These numbers show one thing that he has decent basics with the bat in hand. Yes his T20 batting numbers arent great however, when we go into more details we see that while the average in 18 in T20s and 13.45 in T20Is his SR is 125 and 145 respectively which manifests that most of his innings are at a point where he throws the bat around at no 7/8 most often and does that at a pretty good rate. Most of the players who struggle to connect the ball during such times will not only have lower averages rather lower SR as well.

There is no doubt his bowling has limitations with older ball and his numbers in List A and ODI cricket show that. He is still accurate but, not someone who is going to consistently get you wickets in the middle overs.

Considering everything other than his specialty with the new ball in T20s, there is not much in his stats that suggest he is a bowling all rounder rather he is more of a batting all rounder.

Imad has shown pretty decent hitting ability as well along with a solid temperament and game awareness. One thing I feel is that he doesnt give himself more opportunities to prove his batting when he is captaining his PSL side. He needs to show more of his abilities with the bat as I believe his batting is really underutilized even in his own captaincy.

His overall numbers and temperament he has show, there can be a case of considering for the power hitting option and lower middle order batsmen when currently Pak cricket team doesnt have many decent options as well. His bowling as 6th option will be more than handy in both ODIs and T20s.

 

[Farabi]

Hi

Imad Wasim averages 40 in FC cricket, 37 in List A cricket (Sr of 100) and 44 in ODI cricket (Sr of 110.29). These numbers show one thing that he has decent basics with the bat in hand. Yes his T20 batting numbers arent great however, when we go into more details we see that while the average in 18 in T20s and 13.45 in T20Is his SR is 125 and 145 respectively which manifests that most of his innings are at a point where he throws the bat around at no 7/8 most often and does that at a pretty good rate. Most of the players who struggle to connect the ball during such times will not only have lower averages rather lower SR as well.

There is no doubt his bowling has limitations with older ball and his numbers in List A and ODI cricket show that. He is still accurate but, not someone who is going to consistently get you wickets in the middle overs.

Considering everything other than his specialty with the new ball in T20s, there is not much in his stats that suggest he is a bowling all rounder rather he is more of a batting all rounder.

Imad has shown pretty decent hitting ability as well along with a solid temperament and game awareness. One thing I feel is that he doesnt give himself more opportunities to prove his batting when he is captaining his PSL side. He needs to show more of his abilities with the bat as I believe his batting is really underutilized even in his own captaincy.

His overall numbers and temperament he has show, there can be a case of considering for the power hitting option and lower middle order batsmen when currently Pak cricket team doesnt have many decent options as well. His bowling as 6th option will be more than handy in both ODIs and T20s.

Yup I don’t think anyone’s looking at the data. These are solid stats and show that he can hold a bat. Problem is that he was “labeled” as a hitter although he can be a proper batsman at 5/6 slot in ODIs

 

[MHN1293]

In t20is his batting isnt of much use. Nawaz can do what he does with the bat while also picking up key wickets. In odis he can be handy and has proven himself to be a clutch batsmen.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Imad went into his comfort zone in the last 18 months, started hiding a bit, and lost his place.

You don't need an all rounder who can only bowl couple of overs upfront and then not be trusted to bowl later in the innings, and who only bats when he has to down the order when things are out of control.

Yet, he has all the elements to succeed.

He will have to develop his bowling for the mid overs and should also develop his batting to come up the order. No 4 and 5 slots are up for grabs and he should make a move for them - starting with PSL and domestics.

 

[Zaz]

There no reason why in odis and t20s he cant bat at 5- 6 He has the solid foundations and domestic stats

Agreed with OP he needs to be seen a batsman that can bowl a little and given more batting responsibility

 

[Pakpak]

Yup he is. Still remember the clobbering he gave Afghanistan to get us the win.

 

[Hasan123]

He is a solid batter. He usually reads the situation well and has shown he can find the boundary. He is definitely a better batsmen than Shadab,Nawaz, and Asif Ali .

 

[Titan24]

In t20is his batting isnt of much use. Nawaz can do what he does with the bat while also picking up key wickets. In odis he can be handy and has proven himself to be a clutch batsmen.

In T20s as well at no 6 I think he can only better what hitters like Asif and co has recently shown along with being a decent 6th bowling option.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Not only can he bat sensibly but he can also finish an innings off in style. And above all, he is mentally strong.

His innings against Afghanistan is incredibly underrated. Defeat was almost certain and he wasn't picking a single delivery of Rashid Khan when he came in to bat. But he held his nerve and finished the game off despite the pressure of the situation.

He is better with the bat and alot of the specialist batsmen in the squad.

 

[Slim]

Highly under-rated and deserves to be in the playing 11 over the likes of Nawaz, Asif, Shadab and Haider.

 

[IMMY69]

Should be our number 6 in odi's/T20

 

[Titan24]

He will have to develop his bowling for the mid overs and should also develop his batting to come up the order. No 4 and 5 slots are up for grabs and he should make a move for them - starting with PSL and domestics.

I think Nawaz can do that already and we dont really need Imad to be working on a role for which we already have a guy or two. I think the need of the hour is a batsman at no 6 who can assess the situation and play accordingly while hitting the ball as well when required.

His bowling as 6th option to deliver some economical overs in the middle when required would be pretty handy especially as Hafeez is not in picture of ODIs most likely and Iftikhar haven’t really grabbed his opportunities making that reliable sixth bowling option something which Imad can provide as well.

In an ideal world he should become a wicket taking spinner in the middle overs which unfortunately I dont think is realistic expectation considering his overall style of bowling and that he is 32 currently. With his current skillset I believe he can more easily make that no 6 batting slot along with 6th bowling option.

So I dont think he should be put in competition with guys like Nawaz, Shadab as they are more in the mould of bowling all rounders. Imad is a much superior batsman and as a bowler has a certain ceiling which he is unlikely to surpass.

 

[Titan24]

Currently with 2, 3 decent bowling all rounders around who can hold their own with ball and chip in with few runs, I think Imad can easily make the team at no 6 while guys like Faheem, Nawaz/Shadab can come in afterwards. Not only this can provide a decent batting depth rather bowling depth as well along with Imad being a potential upgrade over the likes of some power hitters we have tried.

 

[Hasan123]

Currently with 2, 3 decent bowling all rounders around who can hold their own with ball and chip in with few runs, I think Imad can easily make the team at no 6 while guys like Faheem, Nawaz/Shadab can come in afterwards. Not only this can provide a decent batting depth rather bowling depth as well along with Imad being a potential upgrade over the likes of some power hitters we have tried.

Mohammed Wasim seems to have a personal problem with Imad Wasim. I have a feeling he won’t select players he has grudges with. I would like Imad back in the T20 team. Not sure it will happen under Mohammed Wasim.

 

[Bigboii]

Mohammed Wasim seems to have a personal problem with Imad Wasim. I have a feeling he won’t select players he has grudges with. I would like Imad back in the T20 team. Not sure it will happen under Mohammed Wasim.

I get that feeling from MW's personality too...

 

[Titan24]

Mohammed Wasim seems to have a personal problem with Imad Wasim. I have a feeling he won’t select players he has grudges with. I would like Imad back in the T20 team. Not sure it will happen under Mohammed Wasim.

If thats the case as some media people also feel then surely Wasim will need to overcome his grudges and think whats best for the team. Though I really hope thats not true and Wasim’s intention is to only push Imad to work more on his game. Considering the lack of batsmen for that no 6 role, I think Mohammad Wasim and team management should stop considering Imad and Nawaz as like for like replacements as Imad is possibly a superior batsman than even some of specialist batsmen we have tried as per his stats and overall temperament. They should be open to the idea that Imad can play while Nawaz still being in the team.

 

[Hasan123]

If thats the case as some media people also feel then surely Wasim will need to overcome his grudges and think whats best for the team. Though I really hope thats not true and Wasim’s intention is to only push Imad to work more on his game. Considering the lack of batsmen for that no 6 role, I think Mohammad Wasim and team management should stop considering Imad and Nawaz as like for like replacements as Imad is possibly a superior batsman than even some of specialist batsmen we have tried as per his stats and overall temperament. They should be open to the idea that Imad can play while Nawaz still being in the team.

Well the way Wasim has talked about Nawaz it seems he will be backed and is seen as a replacement for Imad. I don’t mind Nawaz but Imad has to be in our T20 team.

 

[Hasan123]

I get that feeling from MW's personality too...

It’s very worrying. He needs to know to put his personal grudges aside and pick the best team.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I think Nawaz can do that already and we dont really need Imad to be working on a role for which we already have a guy or two. I think the need of the hour is a batsman at no 6 who can assess the situation and play accordingly while hitting the ball as well when required.

His bowling as 6th option to deliver some economical overs in the middle when required would be pretty handy especially as Hafeez is not in picture of ODIs most likely and Iftikhar haven’t really grabbed his opportunities making that reliable sixth bowling option something which Imad can provide as well.

In an ideal world he should become a wicket taking spinner in the middle overs which unfortunately I dont think is realistic expectation considering his overall style of bowling and that he is 32 currently. With his current skillset I believe he can more easily make that no 6 batting slot along with 6th bowling option.

So I dont think he should be put in competition with guys like Nawaz, Shadab as they are more in the mould of bowling all rounders. Imad is a much superior batsman and as a bowler has a certain ceiling which he is unlikely to surpass.

Despite showing time after time that he has ability with the bat, its kinda disappointing how Imad was never really given any serious opportunities to prove himself as a batsman. He has always been pigeonholed in that No.7 spot and seen more as a bowling all-rounder than an all-rounder who can succeed in both facets, but especially as a batsman.

In one of his first series against England in 2016 he was bailing the side out multiple times when the entire batting order collapsed. I think he averaged something like 70 in that series.

After that he established himself as a lower order finisher but still showed, from time to time that he could bat sensibly when that was what was required of him, like in the World Cup game against Afghanistan.

At some point you've got to question the judgment of the various people that have been involved with Pakistan cricket in the last few years. They really saw nothing in his batting to give him some opportunities up the order? And now he's just been dropped entirely despite being a reliable performer in Pakistan colors.

 

[mac187]

dropping him was fair. he has a habit of hiding, which was clear to see when he captained karachi in the psl. to be considered in the international squad you need to develop your game, he has not developed his game since breaking into the Pakistan team. if two left handers are at the crease he doesn't have the confidence to bowl, he needs to work on that. captain should be able to throw the ball to any bowler regardless of who is batting. there isn't much difference between him and nawaz in all honestly. the problem with a lot of these all rounders is that they are not accountable, if they fail with the bat, they just say they were selected as a bowling all rounder.

 

[Baigel]

His batting is overrated.

The only reason we’re obsessing over him anyway is because he’s not in the squad.

 

[ads101]

Don't think so. I don't believe he will produce those numbers at 6, I think his average is a bit inflated honestly.

But I do think he is miles better batsman than the rest of the allrounders at 7. I wouldn't want him to play anywhere but 7 anyway, that would either result in us forcing a specialist batsman to play at 7, or to play an extra allrounder at 7 who will average 10. Neither are great options.

 

[shamaan]

I think he needs to show more responsibility when the police happens and promote himself he's good enough to bat at 6 in t20s.

 

[Suleiman]

Enough time has passed. We are about to see a Rohit Sharma-Dhoni maneuver about to be made. Remember how Rohit went from a nobody in the middle order to one of the best LOI openers of all time because of the promotion?

It’s high time we do this with Imad. Shadab and Nawaz are nowhere near his batting ability atm.

Let him play as a batsman who bowls a bit. Which is to say, his place in the team will be dependent on his batting. Doesn’t matter how his slow arm darts go.

Bat him at 6 in ODIs and have both him and Nawaz in the t20 squad. If we want a stronger bowling attack for a game, play Nawaz. Stronger batting? Imad. Simple.

Was really rooting for him to get a 100 today.

 

[MenInG]

He has disappointed in the past but that is the past.

His current form is amazing and it would be wrong to not make use of it.