Imad Wasim found himself embroiled in controversy following his stellar performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final against Multan Sultans at Karachi's National Bank Stadium. Despite his instrumental role in Islamabad United's triumphant third PSL title win, securing a five-wicket haul to restrict Multan Sultans to 159/9 and contributing an unbeaten 19 runs during the successful run chase, Imad Wasim attracted attention for the wrong reasons.
Shortly after his remarkable display on the field, videos circulated widely on social media capturing Imad Wasim smoking in the team's dressing room during the match's 18th over. This incident stirred up controversy, overshadowing his exceptional on-field performance. Despite the smoking incident, Wasim was recognized as the Player of the Match for his remarkable all-round contributions, aiding Islamabad United's victory in the PSL final, marking their first final victory since 2018.
On the flip side, Multan Sultans, appearing in their fourth consecutive final, ended as runners-up for the third consecutive season. Despite clinching the championship title in the 2021 edition, they finished as runners-up in the subsequent two editions, with Lahore Qalandars securing back-to-back titles.
Imad Wasim's consistent standout performances in the recent Pakistan Super League have positioned him as a potential wildcard selection for this year's T20 World Cup. His impactful contributions in successive matches, including a