Imad Wasim: Biography, Cricket Career & CPL Journey
Imad Wasim is one of Pakistan’s most trusted all-round cricket players in short matches. He is a left-handed batsman and slow left-arm orthodox spinner. People like him because he bowls very few runs and helps the team by scoring runs when needed. He plays well in many cricket leagues around the world. Throughout his career, he has learned to play well in different countries and conditions.
This flexible player became very good at T20 cricket and is known for being accurate and calm. He has played in many big leagues around the world, especially the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), where he has performed well again and again. This article talks about his life, important moments in his career, and gives special attention to his performances in the CPL.
Early Life and Background
He was born on December 18, 1988, in Swansea, Wales. His father worked as an engineer in England. Later, his family moved to Pakistan. Imad grew up in Islamabad and learned about the local culture there. He first went to university to study medicine, but he loved cricket more. So, he left his studies and joined Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team instead.
This decision changed Imad’s life. He worked hard and improved his cricket skills by playing domestic matches. He started playing first-class cricket for Islamabad in 2005. Over time, he became a good slow left-arm spinner. His left-handed batting also helped the team. His family always supported him, which made him strong and disciplined.
In his personal life, Imad Wasim married Sannia Ashfaq in 2019. They had a daughter in 2021 and a son in 2022. Later, in December 2025, they decided to separate. Even so, Imad keeps his personal life private and now focuses mainly on his cricket career.
Rise in Domestic Cricket
Imad played his first first-class match for Islamabad in the 2006–07 season. He did very well in Pakistan’s domestic cricket. In 77 first-class matches, he scored 3,702 runs with an average of 40.68, including many centuries and fifties. He also took 141 wickets with an average of 31.14.
In List A cricket, he played 124 matches, scored 2,659 runs at an average of 36.93, and took 130 wickets while keeping his bowling economical. Sometimes it was hard to get a place in the team because of competition, but he stayed patient. Later, he also became a captain and led teams in regional tournaments.
Although he did well in long matches, T20 cricket made him famous all over the world. His success in domestic cricket helped him get chances to play in big leagues.
Imad Wasim International Cricket Debut and Career
Imad played his first T20 International match on May 24, 2015, against Zimbabwe. He bowled two overs and gave 14 runs. A little later, on July 19, 2015, he played his first ODI against Sri Lanka. These matches started his international career, and he quickly became a reliable all-rounder.
In 2016, Imad achieved something special. He took 5 wickets for just 14 runs against the West Indies, becoming the first Pakistani spinner to take five wickets in a T20I match. He also helped Pakistan win important games by keeping his bowling very tight.
The 2017 ICC Champions Trophy was a big moment. Imad played an important role in Pakistan’s win, bowling carefully in key matches. He was also named T20I Player of the Year. In 2019, he even captained the ODI team once against Australia.
During the 2019 World Cup, his batting was very good. He scored 162 runs at an average of 54.00, with a strike rate of 118.24. He also kept his bowling economy low at 4.82. Later, he played in the 2021 T20 World Cup. In 2024, he came back after a short retirement for the T20 World Cup. He bowled very well, with an economy of 4.00, and helped Pakistan win the trophy.
Retirement and Comebacks
Imad Wasim retired from international cricket in November 2023. But in March 2024, he decided to come back after playing very well in the PSL. Later, he retired again on December 13, 2024. Since then, he focuses on playing in cricket leagues around the world.
Summary of his International Statistics
| Format | Matches | Runs | Batting Average | Highest Score | Wickets | Bowling Average | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 55 | 986 | 42.86 | 63* | 44 | 44.47 | 5/14 |
| T20I | 75 | 554 | 15.82 | 64* | 73 | 21.75 | 5/14 |
| FC | 77 | 3,702 | 40.68 | 207 | 141 | 31.14 | 8/81 |
| LA | 124 | 2,659 | 36.93 | 117* | 130 | 35.90 | 5/14 |
Achievements and Records
Imad Hasim has some important records. He is the only bowler to take five wickets in a PSL final. In 2017, he was ranked the best T20I bowler by the ICC. He also played a big part in Pakistan winning the Champions Trophy. He even captained the Karachi Kings in the PSL successfully.
In domestic cricket, he scored many runs for Islamabad and has a first-class batting average over 40. He also played in other leagues like The Hundred and the Big Bash League. These achievements show how skilled he is.
Imad Wasim CPL Career
Imad has shown how good he is at T20 cricket in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He first played for the Jamaica Tallawahs. Later, he became the captain of the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in recent seasons. His slow left-arm spin bowling worked very well in CPL conditions. At first, he had to adjust to teams that batted very aggressively. As he gained experience, he started making a big difference in matches.
Debut and Early Seasons
Imad played his first CPL matches for the Jamaica Tallawahs. He joined them in 2016 and stayed until 2023. After that, he played for the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in 2024 and 2025.
Over the seasons, he bowled very economically, giving away few runs. His batting helped the team in the lower order. In CPL matches, he often bowled during the powerplay overs. He also learned to play well in Caribbean conditions. His experience helped his teams perform better in many games.
Recent Performances
In 2023, Imad played very well. He scored quick runs and took important wickets. People shared videos of his exciting play. In 2024, he joined the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. He scored 40 runs against the Guyana Amazon Warriors and bowled very tightly in important matches.
In the 2025 CPL season, Imad Wasim was the captain of the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. He helped the team with both batting and bowling. One of his best moments was leading the team to an eight-run win over the Trinbago Knight Riders. In that match, he scored 37 not out off 25 balls, hitting five fours.
He also bowled very well, giving only about 6.7 runs per over in important games. His batting average was around 30, and he scored quickly with a strike rate over 130. These performances made him even more respected as a player.
Here are notable CPL highlights:
- 2016-2023: Long stint with Jamaica Tallawahs.
- 2024-2025: Switched to Antigua and Barbuda Falcons (ABF).
- Notable: Economical spells and useful batting.
- 2025: Solid contributions in multiple games.
Imad Wasim Stats in CPL
| Season | Team | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Batting Average | Strike Rate | Wickets | Best Bowling | Bowling Average | Economy | Notes/Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early (2016-2018 approx.) | Jamaica Tallawahs | 10+ | 150+ | 40 | ~20.00 | ~125.00 | 12+ | 3/20 | ~20-25 | ~7.00 | Debut phase; focused on spin control and lower-order cameos. |
| 2019-2022 (incl. Guyana) | Guyana Amazon Warriors / Others | 20+ | 300+ | ~50 | ~22-25 | ~130+ | 25+ | 3 wickets | ~20 | ~7.00 | Consistent all-round contributions; wickets in middle overs. |
| 2023 | Jamaica Tallawahs / Others | ~8-10 | 150+ | ~40 | ~25-30 | ~135+ | 10+ | 2-3 wickets | ~18-22 | ~7.00 | Solid economy; batting impact in chases. |
| 2024 | Antigua and Barbuda Falcons | 8+ | 200+ | 46 | ~25-30 | ~130-140 | 10+ | 2-3 wickets | ~20 | ~6.8-7.0 | Captained Falcons; notable 46 vs Trinbago; strong all-round showings. |
| 2025 | Antigua and Barbuda Falcons (Captain) | 8+ | 200+ | 37* | ~30.00 | 130.40 | 10+ | 2/25 | ~18-20 | 6.70 | Leadership role; economical spells (e.g., 6.7 economy in key games); quick unbeaten knocks like 37* off 25. |
| Total | Various (Jamaica, Guyana, Antigua) | ~64 | 759 | 63 | ~20-25 | ~128-130 | 70 | 3 wickets (multiple) | 19.94 | ~6.9 | Career totals; 70 wickets highlight bowling strength. |
Challenges and Off-Field Life
Imad retired from international cricket two times, but he managed the changes calmly. He has not been involved in any big controversies. Outside cricket, he helps young players learn the game. He also quietly supports community activities.
Recent Updates
As of January 2026, Imad Wasim is playing in cricket leagues. He is part of the Dhaka Capitals team in the 2026 BPL. Before that, he played in the 2025 CPL and also in The Hundred in 2025. Experts admire how he is still playing so well at 37 years old. Now, he focuses on doing well in franchise leagues.
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