Pakistan Veteran Throws Hat In The Ring For Captaincy

Imam ul Haq and Fakhar Zaman (Source: AFP Photos)Imam ul Haq, one of Pakistan's very few consistent two-format batters at one point, does not get a place in the limited-overs setup of late. His last ODI came in April 2025, while his last T20I came way back in 2019.However, Imam somehow managed to keep his place in Tests. Even though he had a break of almost two years in red-ball cricket for Pakistan, he is still there, averaging 36.12 after 1734 runs in 52 Test innings.Imam-ul-Haq Takes First Step Toward Pakistan's Captaincy RolePakistan are currently going through a rough time, particularly with their Test captaincy. In fact, they are placed at the bottom of the current World Test Championship (WTC) points table, with a PCT of 8.33.Courtesy of having only one win in four matches, even Bangladesh, West Indies and Sri Lanka are ahead of them in the WTC points table.Also Read: Forgotten Pakistan Opener Falls Cheaply In National T20 Cup ClashIn these critical times where the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is struggling to find a candidate, Imam, who is 30 years old, officially applied for Pakistan’s captaincy. He highlighted his experience in leadership duties in Pakistan’s domestic competitions while bidding for the role."Captaining Pakistan in any format is a great opportunity and a dream for any player. I've been captaining in domestic cricket for the past two to three years. If such an opportunity comes my way, I will definitely consider it," said Imam told the reporters during the NCA Red-Ball Camp in Lahore."I'm not giving priority to any single format. I want to perform across all formats. All three formats are my priority," he added.Has Imam-ul-Haq Captained Pakistan Before?However, Imam-ul-Haq has not captained for Pakistan, not even once. However, he has led Pakistan Shaheens, also known as Pakistan A, and has done the same for Multan Region in the country’s domestic circuit.Imam, however, has done impressively well in ODIs. He averages 47.04 after 75 ODIs, having made 3152 runs with nine centuries and 20 half-centuries. Although his strike rate has always been a concern, with only 81.95, speaking volumes.When Will Pakistan Play Next?Pakistan will soon be in action later this month. They will tour the West Indies for a two-match Test series, with the first match scheduled for July 25 at Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad.The second one will be played at the same venue as well, from August 2 onwards, while the West Indies Select XI will face them at the same place as well, from July 18.After that, Pakistan will tour England for a three-match Test series. The first Test will be at Headingley, Leeds, on August 19, with the second and third matches held at the Lord’s and Edgbaston, respectively.Pakistan tour of England 2026 will be done and dusted by September 13.Also Read: Jai Moondra Signed By Indian Team Owner After Destroying India