The Melbourne Stars have secured the services of recently retired Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim, who will wear the Stars jersey for the remaining matches of the tournament after Christmas.

Imad Wasim, who recently announced his retirement from international cricket, will now feature in the next edition of the Big Bash League (BBL), playing for the Melbourne Stars. He will join the team after Christmas for the remaining games of the tournament.

Having played 121 T20 and ODI games for Pakistan, Imad brings a wealth of experience coupled with valuable lower-order batting skills that complement his skilful left-arm orthodox bowling. Furthermore, he has the rare ability to bowl with the new ball during the powerplay, a skill that very few spinners in world cricket possess.

Imad took part in Pakistan's white-ball games and the southpaw was known for his impressive bowling and powerful strokes with the bat in death overs. The Melbourne Stars expect game-winning performances from the all-rounder.

“With Liam Livingstone available for the first three games, we thought Imad could come in as an all-rounder,” Melbourne Stars general manager Blair Crouch said.

“I really look forward to seeing Pakistan fans in the stands at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as Imad joins his former national team-mates Usama Mir and Haris Rauf.”

Imad has proven his mettle in his last ten games in the Big Bash League (BBL). He pitched in eight innings and scored a total of 56 runs with a high of 15 and an average of 11.2. As for the bowling, Imad bowled 37.1 overs in the same ten games and took ten wickets, with his best figures being 2/13. Although he has not managed a five-wicket haul, his bowling average is 26.6 with an economy rate of 7.16.

When it comes to Imad's overall T20 statistics, he has played 66 matches in the T20 Internationals (T20I). As a batter, he batted in 44 innings, scoring 486 runs with a high score of 64. His batting average is 15.19 and he has a strike rate of 131.71, including a half-century to his credit.

As far as his bowling records are concerned, Imad has played 65 innings and taken 65 wickets. Wasim took a 5-wicket haul with his best in an innings being 5/14. With a bowling economy rate of 6.27 and an average of 21.78, Imad maintains an impressive strike rate of 20.86.

Melbourne Stars BBL 13 Squad 

Scott Boland, Joe Burns, Hilton Cartwright, Brody Couch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Liam Dawson (ENG), Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell, Usama Mir (PAK), Joel Paris, Haris Rauf (PAK), Tom Rogers, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Imad Wasim (PAK), Beau Webster