Pakistan needs big change after hitting ‘rock bottom’, says Imad Wasim

LAUDERHILL: Pakistan cricket is at its lowest point and needs to make radical changes, bowler Imad Wasim said after the team’s failure to make it out of the group stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup.

The 2009 champions, beaten by the finalists two years ago, lost to the United States and India with their only win coming against Canada.

Pakistan’s final game is on Sunday against Ireland, which is now a dead rubber with both teams already eliminated.

Asked about the exit, with the USA beating Pakistan in the Super Eight qualifier, along with India, Wasim said there was no doubting the level of frustration.

“This is the lowest point. You can’t go lower than this. This is the fact,” he told a news conference.

Asked if major changes are needed now, the 35-year-old left-arm spinner said it was clear that radical changes were needed.

“It’s not my area, but I think there needs to be change and there needs to be a drastic change so that we can move forward,” he said.

Wasim, who came off a brief layoff for this tournament, said the change had to be extensive.

“In everything and every aspect. How to start the game? How to play the game? That’s what I thought and that’s why I went back and tried to do things, but it didn’t happen,” he added.

After the shock loss to the USA, Pakistan fought a close battle to defeat India in New York and Wasim said the context needed to be understood.

“You can also say the wickets are a bit tougher than you think and any team can beat anybody. You can see Nepal is almost over. So things can happen but I think the approach, how we play the game, I think it will change that and all the boys are willing to do it because this loss hurt us a lot,” he said.

‘Mentality’

The key change that is needed is the mental side of the game, Wasim added.

“I’m giving my personal opinion. Don’t make these headlines – it’s all about your mindset. What mindset do you want to play the game with? Either you play fire with fire or you play your way.

“Well, personally I think you have to play fire with fire. And even if you lose, you can sit back and tell yourself that we weren’t good enough that day,” he said.

“The problem is that our team is so good, our players are so good that we are good enough to play any kind of cricket. So you have to get rid of the mindset of fear of failure.

“In everything – batting, bowling, fielding, you have to get rid of the mindset of fear of failure. As I said earlier, changing personnel doesn’t change anything, just changing mindset can change a lot of things,” he added.

“We are playing against the best teams in the world. Their mentality has changed over time. We used to rule T20 cricket. I think we have come back a bit now. If you change the player’s mind, you can achieve things beyond your limits I always believe in that.”

Wasim said he will not make any decision on his future until after Sunday’s match.

“In terms of leaving, tomorrow there is a match. We will play a match and obviously, after that, we will think about it and sort out what we need to. Because to be honest, a lot of things are going to be sorted out in the Pakistan team The president and the board will sort it out.

“We’ve given away two games to ourselves. Losing to the USA, well, losing is part of the game, but we shouldn’t have lost to the USA. Even against India – we had that game in our hands and we shouldn’t have lost. , well, there is no excuse for anything.

“After the Ireland game — we’ll sit and talk and then we’ll decide. I’m not doing anything in secret. I told everyone when I pulled out last time. If something happens, I’ll come and tell everyone.”