Imam ul Haq. Image Credits: AFP
Worries continue to mount for Pakistan as their experienced opener, Imam ul Haq, did not come out to bat in the first innings of the ongoing Test at Lord’s due to an injury. This is despite the visitors losing 9 wickets at just 110, trailing England’s 290 runs.
Having lost the first Test by an innings and 103 runs, this is a must-win fixture for Pakistan to stay alive in the series. However, as they trail by 261 runs at stumps on Day 2, Nasser Hussain has expressed concerns over Imam opting out of coming out to bat.
Why did Imam ul Haq not bat vs England at Lord’s?
The 30-year-old opening batter, who scored 42 runs in Leeds, is a crucial cog in Pakistan’s top-order. After being ripped into shreds in the first Test, it was expected that senior pros like Imam ul Haq would take responsibility and step up to stay alive in the series.
Nonetheless, as the teams took the field on the opening day of the Lord’s Test, the southpaw suffered a strain in his left calf. He went off the field and did not return for the remainder of the day.
As England found themselves 248/9 at Stumps on Day 1, PCB released an official statement, confirming the status of Imam’s injury and revealed his participation in the match would depend on how he recovers.
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Later on the day, the in-form Shan Masood had to open with the promising Azan Awais, while Abdullah Shafique batted at 3. This disrupted the whole batting line-up, and Pakistan crumbled, as they were bowled out for 110.
Former England captain questions Imam ul Haq’s absence amid Pakistan’s collapse
The former England captain Nasser Hussain is currently on broadcast duties with Sky Cricket for the ongoing series. He compared Imam ul Haq’s situation to Nathan Lyon’s calf tear while bowling at the same venue during Ashes 2023 and said Imam could have at least come to add some crucial runs for his team.
Lyon had famously walked out to bat to a massive applause in the aforementioned Test and batted for a while before being ruled out of the series.
“I’m surprised Imam ul Haq didn’t bat. With a calf strain, you can go out there, hobble out there and just hold up an end. Nathan Lyon, in the Ashes, hobbled out, tore his calf and did what he could,” he said.
End of road for Imam ul Haq in Tests?
The Pakistan opener finds himself in a precarious situation in the middle of the England tour, with his series potentially over due to the calf injury. After skipping batting on Day 2, it seems unlikely that he will take part in the remainder of the series.
Interestingly, with the 21-year-old Azan Awais already making a name for himself, the other opening spot is up for grabs. Imam had missed about two years of Test action between 2023 and late 2025 before making a comeback. Nonetheless, he hasn’t managed to grab his opportunities with both hands.
Now, with Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique being among the runs, and another youngster, Abdullah Fazal, already impressing in his debut series, it is likely that Imam has played his last Test for the foreseeable future. After 30 Tests, he has scored 1865 runs at an average of 34.53.
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