Should Pakistan have tried Imad Wasim in Tests in the UAE?

[RyanRyan10]

Imad Wasim has a good record in FC with both bat and ball

He excelled on slow pitches of UAE in white ball cricket

Pakistan invested in Shafiq as 6th batsman for 75+ tests and he averaged just 38. Allrounders inferior to Imad- Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan were also picked for a few games.

So did Pakistan management made a mistake of not playing Imad Wasim in tests played in UAE?

 

[ChTab]

Imad Wasim has a good record in FC with both bat and ball

He excelled on slow pitches of UAE in white ball cricket

Pakistan invested in Shafiq as 6th batsman for 75+ tests and he averaged just 38. Allrounders inferior to Imad- Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan were also picked for a few games.

So did Pakistan management made a mistake of not playing Imad Wasim in tests played in UAE?

IMO he is not a test bowler. You need a spinner to turn the ball if he can't do that he doesn't merit a spot in the test team. Plus batting wise he's a decent hitter in LOI's but I don't think he has a good defensive technique to survive in the Test cricket.

 

[Canistani Hero]

No. Rehman and Zulfi did well enough, a specialist was required. I would still put Zafar Gohar, Umer Khan and Nawaz ahead of him

 

[UzmanBeast]

No offense to Imad, but darters don't work in test cricket. You need actual spinners, especially in the UAE. If he were to play as a sole batsman, his improvement in batting only came a few years ago.

If he was a better batsman, he'd bat higher up the order for Karachi Kings as well, but he doesn't.

His role on the team isn't defined anymore, which is why he might not be captain in PSL 7.

He isn't contributing with the bat, his bowling is alright, not as good as it was a few years ago. The point is, Imad's spot in the T20 and ODI team was unchallenged, but now, people like Nawaz are making a strong case for their selection.

If Imad doesn't start taking wickets, or if he doesn't put up some match-winning performances, he could see himself on the sidelines.

For test cricket, it's better that Pakistan look towards a more orthodox test match spinner in the likes of Zafar Gohar, Sajid Khan, among others.

 

[Mamoon]

Imad lacked the fitness and didn’t have interest in Test cricket otherwise he could have been a very good second spinner.

He could have easily averaged 35 with the bat and bowl long, economical spells. Pakistan have lacked a wicket-taking partner for Yasir, so someone like Imad with his batting capabilities would have been a very solid addition to the team.

 

[Rajdeep]

He could have played the role that Washington Sundar is playing for India. Handy lower order bat and a 5th bowler who is used to give rest to main spinner. Then again, Pak can only play one between Faheem Ashraf and him like India can only between Pandya and Sundar.

 

[Zaz]

Hes a darter Someone who doesnt turn the ball isnt going to be a successful test match bowler

 

[Hasan123]

I think he had an issue with his knee that’s why he didn’t play tests. But I think he could have done well at tests, in SENA even if he wasn’t getting wickets he would have been able to keep things tight.

 

[Justcrazy]

In Test Matches, you need spinners who are spinners NOT slow bowlers.
You need spinners who is capable of beating batsmen with flight and loop.

 

[Saj]

He wouldn't have been able to bowl the 50 or 60 overs needed in each Test.

He's had injury issues over the years and his body wouldn't have been able to cope with it.

In interviews he has said that he wanted to play Test cricket but the reality is that he probably didn't and he knew that he wouldn't have been able to cope with it.

 

[gazza619]

I think Imad could have easily averaged 38 like Asad Shafiq and in addition could have been a decent 5th bowler.

He could have been deadly on the 5th day of an uneven pitch.