Former Pakistan Test cricketer, Wajahatullah Wasti, is backing the discarded opening batsman, Imran Nazir to make a comeback at the international level and feels that he should be considered for the upcoming ICC World T20 2012, which is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka in September.
Nazir made his international debut in 1999 after some inspiring performances for Pakistan Under-19s. The right-handed batsman is considered to be one of the most talented cricketers produced by the country and was always predicted for a great future by some of the legends of the game like Imran Khan and Ian Chappell.
However, the 30-year-old cricketer is one of the biggest disappointments of the previous decade for Pakistan cricket and even after 13 years of making his Test debut, Nazir remains a potential unfulfilled.
Wasti, who played alongside the stroke-player in his initial years, was quoted by Pakpassion that Imran was successful as long as he played orthodox cricket shots. However, the effort to become more flamboyant damaged the batsman’s career and as result; he has ordinary stats despite being given a number of chances at the international stage.
The former cricketer said, “Imran Nazir played with me on his debut in Lahore during the Asian Test Championships. When he first started out his technique was very good, and it still is. He performed very well at the beginning of his career – even in Test matches he had his own way of playing cricket.”
Wasti believes that Nazir has been working hard on his game in recent times and there is an evident improvement in his mental approach as well. The former opening batsman urged selectors to consider the Gujranwala-born cricketer for the World T20, as he can surely bolster Pakistan’s batting line-up.
“Imran Nazir should be given a chance. His temperament used to be a problem but it has improved a lot and I think he is ready to make a comeback. Imran could be an inspired selection for the T20 World Cup later this year,” he added.
