Pakistan reeling after shocking T20 World Cup exit: Imad demands change

Pakistan reeling after shocking T20 World Cup exit: Imad demands change

Asher Butt 

The wounds are still fresh for the Pakistani cricket team following their unexpected group-stage exit from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. Veteran all-rounder Imad Wasim, who came out of retirement for the tournament, has spoken out about his disappointment and called for a significant overhaul within the team.

Pakistan's early dismissal, after reaching the finals in the 2022 edition, is a major setback. Wasim, known for his aggressive batting and bowling, believes this is a rock bottom for Pakistani cricket.

In a scathing assessment, Wasim called for drastic changes. He feels Pakistan lags behind other teams in terms of approach, requiring significant improvement in batting, bowling, and fielding – every department of the game.  He emphasized the need for a mindset shift, advocating for a more aggressive and adaptable approach to compete with the best.

"The reason for our defeat was our mindset," Wasim stated. "We need to take the fear of failure out and try something new. It's all about mindset. Other teams have changed their thinking, we are behind."

Wasim acknowledged his shortcomings in the crucial match against arch-rivals India. He admitted that the plan was to extend the chase due to the challenging batting pitch but conceded that he failed to execute effectively.

This early exit serves as a wake-up call for Pakistan cricket. Wasim's words highlight the need for introspection and a strategic shift to compete in the ever-evolving world of T20 cricket.  The coming days will likely see discussions regarding the team's future direction, player selection, and potential changes within the PCB.  Pakistan's cricket followers will be eagerly awaiting a clear path forward that restores their team's competitive edge far away from favouritism, nepotism, partiality, prejudice and friendship.