The real story behind Imad Wasim's retirement reversal

All-rounder Imad Wasim on Saturday announced his decision to reverse his retirement, making himself available for the Pakistan T20I side leading up to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Imad will make his return in the national squad with the forthcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Imad held discussions with PCB's CEO Salman Naseer and Chief Selector Wahab Riaz the previous day, where he laid out his conditions for reconsidering retirement. Sources indicate that Imad stipulated his return contingent upon assurance of being included in the squad until the next World Cup. Wahab Riaz provided the necessary assurances in this regard.

Imad's retirement from international cricket stemmed from concerns regarding the challenges in obtaining NOCs (No Objection Certificates) for participation in franchise leagues. He communicated to Salman Naseer the need to honor various contractual obligations outside international commitments, thus requesting the board to facilitate his participation in leagues while also pledging his availability for national duty whenever required. Furthermore, Imad expressed a lack of interest in securing a central contract, emphasizing his primary focus on serving Pakistan's interests and striving to secure a World Cup victory for the team. He indicated his readiness to play without a formal contract, demonstrating his commitment to the national cause.

While Imad's stance on contractual matters has been acknowledged by board officials, a final decision regarding his contract status awaits consultation with Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. It's worth noting that without a central contract, players typically receive compensation at a lower tier.

Influential in Imad's decision to reverse his retirement was the encouragement and persuasion from Pakistan T20I captain Shaheen Afridi. During PSL season 9, Afridi emphasized the significance of Imad's role in the national team setup and urged him to reconsider his retirement decision. Afridi's persistent communication, reaching out to Imad multiple times in recent days, played a pivotal role in motivating Imad to reverse his retirement and recommit to international cricket.