Pakistan vs New Zealand: What To Expect From Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim Upon Return From Retirement

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Pakistan vs New Zealand: Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim's return from retirement has led to speculation among fans and experts alike as the duo are going to feature in the upcoming five-match T20 series against New Zealand after selection in the 17-man squad.

The decision comes following their stellar performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and with the backdrop of the T20 World Cup 2024. However, Babar Azam's return to captaincy has opened a can of worms for the duo and the Men in Green.

Amir and Wasim had previously retired from international cricket after falling out of favour with the previous management of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). However, their exceptional display in the recent edition of the PSL caught the attention of the current PCB regime under Mohsin Naqvi, urging the duo to come out of their international retirement.

Return to the national team on merit

Both players showcased remarkable skills during the PSL, with Amir's lethal bowling and Wasim's all-round performance earning them accolades from fans and experts alike. Their form and experience have been deemed invaluable assets as Pakistan prepares for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA.

Mohammad Amir took ten wickets in nine games during the PSL while featuring for his new franchise Quetta Gladiators, who reached the playoffs for the first time after suffering for the last four seasons.

Amir was the best pacer for his side and was an improved bowler in the death overs with more variations and yorker-length accuracy. He ended the PSL 2024 with a commendable economy rate of 8.41. For long, Pakistan's death bowling has been an Achilles heel and he, along with Naseem Shah, could be the answer in the T20 World Cup.

Imad Wasim also left a lasting impression with his exceptional performance, both with the bat and ball. A spinner, who is comfortable bowling in the powerplay and, if needed, at the death as well, Imad started the PSL season slow but turned out to be Islamabad's trump card in the play-offs as he was the man of the man in all of three knockout matches, including the final.

Uncomfortable relationship with the captain

However, what worries many is the duo do not share a nice rapport with reinstated captain Babar Azam, who has never been heard of backing Imad or Amir. To make things further dicey, both of them have often criticised the captaincy of Babar on numerous media platforms during their sabbatical from international critical.

However, it's the team that comes first and for the greater good, which is the T20 World Cup, it would be better if the parties mend things soon, starting with the Pakistan vs New Zealand series.