Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim has spoken out about his prolonged absence from international cricket, warning that he will “have to take a step” if he is left out “without reason” again.

Wasim recently returned to the Pakistan fold,  finishing as his side’s leading run-scorer and going at less than six runs per over in their series defeat to Afghanistan. The Afghanistan series was Wasim’s first for Pakistan since the 2021 T20 World Cup, after which he was left out of the international set-up despite boasting excellent records in both white-ball formats.

Away from the international game, Wasim was high in demand on the franchise circuit during his Pakistan absence, appearing in the Pakistan Super League, the Caribbean Premier League, Lanka Premier League, and Bangladesh Premier League in his 17 months away from the Pakistan side.

Speaking to Geo TV, Wasim said: “They [selectors] never told the reason behind keeping me away from the national team for last one and a half year. I won’t let this happen again. My actions will be more important this time around,” Imad said.

“I am at that stage of my career that I have to take a step if they drop me without any reason again,” he added.

Wasim’s record in ODI cricket is particularly eye-catching. With the bat, he averages over 40 and strikes at 110 while with the ball he concedes runs at less than five runs per over. Wasim last played an ODI all the way back in October 2020, but fellow left-arm spinning all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has excelled in his absence, averaging 20.85 with the ball in ODIs since the start of 2021.

However, Nawaz’s batting credentials are markedly inferior to those of Wasim. Whereas Wasim averages north of 40 in the format, Nawaz averages a mere 16.50 despite regularly batting at seven. Wasim is in the Pakistan squad for their upcoming series against New Zealand but he is not in their group for the ODIs.