Imad Wasim: The Welsh-Born All-Rounder Who Nearly Became a Doctor
Imad Wasim was a medical student who walked away from his studies the moment Pakistan’s Under-19 team came calling. He went on to become the first Welsh-born cricketer ever to represent Pakistan internationally.
Swansea, and an early move to Islamabad
Syed Imad Wasim Haider was born on 18 December 1988 in Swansea, Wales. His parents moved back to Pakistan while Imad was still very young, and he grew up entirely in Islamabad.
Medicine, or the Under-19 team — not both
Imad was studying medicine when Pakistan’s Under-19 selectors came calling, and he abandoned his medical studies entirely. He was part of the Pakistan side that won the 2005-06 Under-19 World Cup.
International recognition finally arrives, in 2015
Imad didn’t earn his first Pakistan caps until 2015. He was a key member of the Pakistan squad that won the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, serving as vice-captain.
The retirement, un-retirement, re-retirement cycle
He first announced his retirement in November 2023, reversed it in March 2024 for the T20 World Cup, then announced retirement for a second time in December 2024.
A genuinely enormous T20 body of work
Across his career, Imad has played over 300 T20 matches worldwide across more than 25 franchises.
Family life
Imad married Sannia Ashfaq in August 2019; the couple had two children. More recently, reports have indicated Imad remarried, to Nyla.
Where his career stands
Imad Wasim’s career is a study in quiet consistency — a medical student who gave up his studies for cricket, the first Welsh-born player to ever represent Pakistan.
Playing style: control first, then damage
Imad Wasim built one of the most distinctive roles in modern T20 cricket: the new-ball spinner. Where most captains hand the first over to a fast bowler, Pakistan repeatedly gave it to Imad, whose flat, fast left-arm spin skidded on with the new ball and gave openers almost nothing to hit. His economy rate in the powerplay was consistently among the best in the format, and for several years his job was simple — bowl three or four overs at the top, concede under 25, and hand the innings over to the quicks.
With the bat he was a finisher of the old school: low backlift, strong bottom hand, and a preference for hitting straight down the ground rather than clearing the leg-side boundary. He rarely opened his shoulders before the 16th over, but when he did he could turn a par score into a winning one, and he saw Pakistan home in a string of tight run chases.
The franchise years
Imad’s real legacy may be as a franchise professional. He captained Karachi Kings to their only PSL title in 2020, led the side for several seasons, and became one of the most travelled Pakistani players in the global T20 circuit, turning out in the Caribbean, England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the UAE and beyond. Coaches valued him for the same reasons national selectors did: he did a specific job reliably, kept the dressing room calm and never needed a run-up to get into a game.
Legacy
Imad retired without a Test cap, which some regard as a missed opportunity given his first-class record. But his white-ball career — a Champions Trophy medal, a PSL title as captain, and a decade as Pakistan’s most trusted powerplay spinner — is a body of work few all-rounders of his generation can match. Keep an eye on his coaching and commentary moves, and follow his former franchise on the PSL live score page.
Quick facts
Full name: Syed Imad Wasim Haider | Born: 18 December 1988, Swansea, Wales | Role: Left-handed all-rounder, slow left-arm orthodox spin | Notable: First Welsh-born cricketer to represent Pakistan, 2017 Champions Trophy winner and vice-captain, T20I Player of the Year, over 300 career T20 wickets across more than 25 franchises worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Imad Wasim?
Born on 18 December 1988, Imad Wasim is in his late thirties as of 2026.
Was Imad Wasim really born in Wales?
Yes — making him the first Welsh-born player to represent Pakistan internationally.
Has Imad Wasim retired from cricket?
Yes — after a back-and-forth, he retired for a second and final time in December 2024.
What is Imad Wasim’s playing style?
A left-handed all-rounder who bowls slow left-arm orthodox spin.
Did Imad Wasim play Test cricket?
No — his entire international career was in ODIs and T20Is.
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Researched and fact-checked against official league, federation and governing-body sources. Reviewed by Makhdoomzada Zaeem Muhammad, Founder & Editor, PinLivescore.