Pakistan selectors have been closely watching the ongoing Champions Cup to reserve a pool of players for future. Players who have been dropped recently or missed international action for a while have looked at it as an opportunity to make a comeback. Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq’s nephew Imam-ul-Haq is one of these players. Imam has managed to score two fifties in the tournament but they have come in a losing cause. On September 16, in Stallions’ clash against Panthers, Imam was anchoring the run chase when he lost his wicket. The opener was frustrated with himself and vented out his anger upon reaching the dressing room.
In the run chase of 284, Imam was batting on 60. Against Panthers' captain Shadab Khan, he tried to play the cut shot but all he could manage was an outside edge which landed in wicketkeeper Usman Khan's gloves. As he reached the dressing room, Imam smashed the ground with his bat and threw it. He shouted and then sat on the chair.
Lions lack patience in run chase
Imam's 60-run knock was laced with five fours and a couple of sixes. After his wicket the score was 127/4 in the 23rd over. Lions lost the plot in the run chase in the middle overs. Usama Mir and Shadab spun a web around the rest of the batting lineup. Irfan Khan (35) fell to Mir whereas Khushdil (22) was deceived by Shadab. Aamer Yamin became the captain's third victim of the day. Skipper Shaheen Afridi could not make a mark either and got bowled for an eight-ball duck by Mir.
Ahmed Daniyal (16) and Sirajuddin (19) entertained the crowd in Faisalabad before Lions were bowled out for 199 in 35.3 overs. Lions lost the match by a big margin of 84 runs. They have lost two consecutive matches.
In the previous game against Stallions, Imam scored 78 runs from 83 balls but lacked support from the other end as Lions were bowled out for 203 in run chase of 337.
Imam’s absence from national squad
Imam was dropped from the ODI side in the aftermath of ODI World Cup 2023 exit. He managed to score 162 runs from six innings in the mega event.
However, the 28-year-old's overall numbers in the ODIs as impressive. He has scored 3,138 runs from 72 ODIs at an average of 48.27. He has nine centuries and 20 fifties to his name as well.
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