In a significant blow to the Pakistan cricket team, all-rounder Imad Wasim will miss the first T20 World Cup 2024 match against the United States. The match is set to take place at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas, on June 6. Pakistan captain Babar Azam, speaking from Dallas, confirmed Wasim’s absence due to a side strain. Wasim, a key player for Pakistan, has not fully recovered and remains under observation.

Recovery and Availability

Babar Azam assured the media that Wasim is being closely monitored by the medical team and is expected to be available for the remaining matches in the World Cup.

“The medical staff is monitoring him, and he will be available for the remaining matches in the World Cup,” Babar stated.

With the World Cup in mind, Wasim, a seasoned T20 specialist, was brought out of retirement two months ago. The selectors believed his bowling style would suit the slow nature of pitches in the Americas.

Team Strategy and Pitch Conditions

Alongside Wasim, left-arm spinner Mohammad Amir was also selected for the World Cup, but both have been used sparingly in the preparatory series against New Zealand, Ireland, and England.

Babar mentioned that the pitches appear favourable for pace bowlers, and Pakistan’s strong pace attack suits these conditions well.

“They (pitches) appear good for pace bowlers, and we have a very good pace attack, so the pitches seem good for us,” Babar noted.

Facilities and Preparations

Addressing concerns about the facilities at the venues in the USA, Babar emphasized that the team had no complaints. He acknowledged the challenge of not playing warm-up games before their first match but expressed confidence in the team’s readiness.

“It is okay. We have no complaints, and we have seen all this before. Not playing warm-up games before our first match could have been a problem, but we have come here after playing some cricket. It is not an issue for us,” he said.

Babar’s Milestone and Team Focus

Babar recently became the second batter, after Virat Kohli, to surpass the 4000-run mark in T20 Internationals. While Kohli leads with 4037 runs, Babar is close behind with 4023 runs. However, the 29-year-old focused on the team’s success rather than individual records.

“We are here to try to win the World Cup. I am not here thinking about personal records. What matters is that the team did well, and we won the World Cup. We have learnt from our past mistakes,” he added.

As Pakistan gears up for their T20 World Cup opener against the USA, the absence of Imad Wasim will be felt, but the team remains optimistic and focused on their ultimate goal of winning the World Cup.