Mohammed Wasim

[Shaka]

Does anyone here know much about this player? I know he's still around and for me he was one of the most under-rated players in Pakistan in the last decade. he was tried a couple of times and then discarded despite doing well in Australia - something beyond most of our recent Pakistani batsmen. A very elegant player with very good technique and time to play his shots from the little that I saw of him, I never really understood why he wasn't given a genuine chance at securing a test spot. In a team which has always accomodated spectacular hitters who fail more often than not, I think we would really appreciate the likes of Wasim today. I think Asim Kamal is another of the same breed.

[Zainub]

That's an extraordinarily accurate and vivid recall Shakka - by defination you know have an eidetic memory. Like many Pakistani players Mohammad Wasim now aged 27 made his debut at a tendor age of 19 in 1997 (I can not precisely recall his hundred on debut since I was only 10 years old back then but have some memories of seeing him play for us against Sri Lanka in the penultimate Asia Cup). Martin Williamson at cricket info states in his profile :

He plays with such a straight bat that at times it seems that he doesn't have any strokes in his armory but when he settles down and gets going, there is no stopping him. After his maiden hundred he was given an extended run in the side, but there followed a string of low scores punctuated by 192 against Zimbabwe at Harare. He made good half-centuries at Hobart and Bridgetown, but was not consistent enough for the selectors and after back-to-back failures against Sri Lanka in 2000 he was dropped. His one-day career was similar, with some good performances, but not enough to maintain his spot in the side, especially given his tendency to start slowly. Within three years of being hailed as a great new talent, Wasim was discarded in favour of Pakistan’s next bunch of promising youngsters. In 2002-03 he left Pakistan and signed for Otago in New Zealand, playing his domestic cricket there.

[Shaka]

I don't know what an eidetic memory is Zainub, but I always liked Wasim because he played with a very straight bat and his shot selection was pretty good from the little that I saw of him. I had no idea that he was only 27 today. Are you sure?

I was reminded of him by a question on BW's site, but in truth I never really understood why he wasn't given a fair chance. I don't think he was a worse player than Bazid Khan who steps so far across his stumps it's difficult to see why he was picked for an international game in the first place.

[Zainub]

I though I made it pretty clear, but I'll clarify again - eidetic (an adjective) means of, relating to, or marked by extraordinarily detailed and vivid recall of visual images. Came across that word in a newspaper article. It is actually from the German word eidetisch, but some say it may be from Greek eidos meaning form. In other words it was a compliment.

On Mohammad Wasim's age, cricket info states he was born on 8 August 1977, and made his test debut on 21 Nov 1995 vs NZ (not in 97 as previously incorrectly stated) at the precise age of 19 years and 105 days, so according to that his present age is 27 years and 65 days.

[Shaka]

I take it he is not playing domestic cricket in Pakistan then? At the age of 27 he should still have plenty to offer, I thought he was a very mature batsman even back then. Players with a good technique, cool temperament and who value their wickets aren't appreciated enough in Pakistan.

Maybe I just didn't see enough of him but to me he looked like a player who should have been given a better chance to establish himself.

[Maranello]

He's moved to NZL and plays domestic cricket for Otago. The selectors will probably not consider him unless he returns to Pak and plays a season (or at least a few matches) in either the Quaid-e-Azam or the Patron's Trophy..



I think his last Test was around 4/5 years ago (though someone more industrious than I can I am sure check that on cricinfo!).

As such, he is probably too disappointed with his future Pakistani prospects, and hence the move abroad. Shame really, I enjoyed watching him play sooo straight!

[fair_&_balance]

Very good thread Shaka.
I have seen him play and was one of the technically very sound player.He was very lanky and his style of play was very much like Dravid( My Indian bias always comes in). But both of them dbuted at the same time and this is what I thougt then. He played most of his matches outside Pakistan and did pretty well compared to any other pakistani batsmen on those tours.

This one of those examples of losing talent fo rnothing. Remember Basit Ali.

Anyway ,Latest I heard is that He is doing very good in NZL and is planning to play for NZL national team.I think He is expcted to get his citizenship very soon. NZL cricket borad is very keen to bring him in.

[Shaka]

It's weird f & b, I was going to mention that he reminded me of Dravid but I didn't think it was right to bracket him with such a great player :-P But it's true he had the same very collected and organised style. It's a loss that he's gone to NZ but I really wish him all the best. I'd love to see him do well, because I thought he got a raw deal from Pakistan.

Basit Ali was a fabulous player but he was also a hot head. I'm pretty sure he burned his bridges with the authorities, I know he clashed with a few senior figures but it was never really made clear what went on behind the scenes. That was a real waste of talent. I remember he stood up to Ambrose, Walsh and co in the Windies when they were at their peak.

[fair_&_balance]

Originally Posted by Shaka

Basit Ali was a fabulous player but he was also a hot head. I'm pretty sure he burned his bridges with the authorities, I know he clashed with a few senior figures but it was never really made clear what went on behind the scenes. That was a real waste of talent. I remember he stood up to Ambrose, Walsh and co in the Windies when they were at their peak.

I was a big fan of Basit.Those days we all thought Pakistan has got someone to take Javed's place. He was brilliant.