New Wasim in Pakistan’s line-up

dubai — In the days leading up to the start of the T20 series between Pakistan and the West Indians, all-rounder Imad Wasim had spoken about consistency and that the team had discussed their tag of being an unpredictable team.

Three matches on, Wasim and a brave new Pakistan has walked the talk, literally, so to speak. Pakistan have bested the world champions quite easily and one man who has played the part to perfection has been Wasim.

With Sarfraz Ahmed being an enterprising captain, Wasim was given the new ball in all three games. And the 27-yearold responded by breaking the back of the West Indies batting with his left-arm spin, especially the top order.

After a career-best five for 14 in the first game in Dubai, the first five-wicket haul in the format by a Pakistan spinner and the second Pakistan bowler to do so after Umar Gul, Wasim took one for 18 in the second fixture in Dubai.

He then wrapped up the series with a three for 21 in the last game in Abu Dhabi. With nine wickets and two Man of the Match awards, Wasim was also adjudged the Man of the Series.

Wasim is not a big turner of the ball but he bowls wicket to wicket and is tidy. He has been quicker and has not given any width whatsoever to the West Indies batsmen, who have been left flummoxed.

Wasim said that he has just been sticking to the basics.

“I’m just trying to stick to the basics and I don’t try to experiment. I just try to bowl wicket to wicket. And basically, we try to go for early wickets. That’s the plan. And I try to take wickets and not give away runs. So, build a bit of pressure so that if I cannot take a wicket, we would probably get a wicket from the other end,” said Wasim.

It is not easy for a spinner to bowl with the new ball, especially in a format like the T20, but Wasim has adapted well. He revealed that bowling first up in domestic cricket has helped.

“Over the past two to three years in domestic cricket, I tried a lot to bowl with the new ball,” he said. Wasim is also in the ODI squad but he is not getting carried away with the form he has shown so far.