Imam-ul-Haq[a] (pronounced [ɪmaːm ʊl ɦəq]; born 22 December 1995)[4] is a Pakistani international cricketer who plays for the Pakistan National Cricket Team.[5] In his first One Day International (ODI), against Sri Lanka, he became the second batter for Pakistan, and thirteenth overall, to score a century on debut.[6][7] In August 2018, he was one of 33 players to be awarded a central contract for the 2018–19 season by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).[8][9]

Imam-ul-Haq
Imam-ul-Haq in October 2017
Personal information
Born (1995-12-22) 22 December 1995 (age 28)[1]
Multan, Punjab, Pakistan[2]
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[3]
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingRight arm leg break
RoleTop-order batter
RelationsInzamam-ul-Haq (uncle)
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 231)11 May 2018 v Ireland
Last Test26 December 2023 v Australia
ODI debut (cap 215)18 October 2017 v Sri Lanka
Last ODI27 October 2023 v South Africa
T20I debut (cap 81)5 May 2019 v England
Last T20I8 November 2019 v Australia
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2012/13Lahore Shalimar
2014/15–2015/16Khan Research Laboratories
2016/17–2017/18Habib Bank Limited
2019–2022Peshawar Zalmi (squad no. 26)
2019–2023Balochistan
2022Somerset
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 24 72 73 97
Runs scored 1,568 3,138 4,527 4,089
Batting average 37.33 48.27 41.53 45.43
100s/50s 3/9 9/20 11/23 10/27
Top score 157 151 202* 151
Balls bowled 12 120 28
Wickets 0 1 0
Bowling average 74.00
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 1/4
Catches/stumpings 21/– 15/– 45/– 22/–
Source: Cricinfo, 31 October 2023

Domestic career edit

In the final of the 2016–17 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, he scored 200 not out batting for Habib Bank Limited.[10] In the final of 2017–18 National T20 Cup, he scored 59 not out batting for Lahore Blues, and was named man of the match.[11]

In July 2022, he was signed by Somerset to play in their final four matches of the County Championship in England.[12]

Imam-ul-Haq has had a notable domestic cricket career in addition to his international achievements.

In the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Imam-ul-Haq has been a valuable asset to his franchise. His consistent performances and impactful contributions have made him a key player in the league. His batting prowess and ability to anchor innings have not only brought success to his team but have also earned him recognition among PSL enthusiasts.[13]

Apart from his PSL endeavors, Imam-ul-Haq has showcased his skills in various domestic competitions, further solidifying his reputation as a reliable and skilled cricketer.

For a comprehensive overview of Imam-ul-Haq's domestic career statistics, refer to his ESPNcricinfo profile.

International career edit

In October 2017, he was named in Pakistan's ODI squad for their series against Sri Lanka.[14] On his ODI debut against Sri Lanka on 18 October 2017, he scored an ODI century and was named man of the match.[15] He became the second Pakistan batter after Saleem Elahi to score an ODI hundred on debut.[16]

In April 2018, he was named in Pakistan's Test squad for their tours to Ireland and England in May 2018. He made his Test debut against Ireland, on 11 May 2018.[17][18] He scored a half century in the final innings of the match which was instrumental in the team's win.[19]

On 20 July 2018, in the fourth ODI against Zimbabwe, he and Fakhar Zaman made the highest opening partnership in ODIs, with 304 runs.[20] Pakistan finished their innings at 399 for the loss of one wicket, their highest score in ODIs.[21] Zaman and Imam had scored 705 runs together across the series, the most by a pair in a bilateral ODI series.[22]

In January 2019, during the third ODI against South Africa, Imam became the second fastest batter to score 1,000 runs in ODIs, doing so in his 19th innings.[23]

In April 2019, he was named in Pakistan's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[24][25] He made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for Pakistan against England on 5 May 2019.[26] Ahead of the Cricket World Cup, in the ODI series against England, Imam scored 151 runs in the third ODI match. This was the highest individual total for a Pakistan batter against England in a One Day International.[27]

In June 2020, he was named in a 29-man squad for Pakistan's tour to England during the COVID-19 pandemic.[28][29] In July, he was shortlisted in Pakistan's 20-man squad for the Test matches against England.[30][31] In July 2021, in the third match against England, he scored his 2,000th run in ODI cricket.[32]

In March 2022, in the opening match of the series against Australia, Imam scored his first century in Test cricket.[33] In the second innings, he scored another century, becoming the tenth batter for Pakistan to score a century in both innings of a Test.[34]

On 22 August 2023, in the opening match of the 3 ODI series vs Afghanistan, Imam Played a crucial inning of 61 Runs where all batting line of Pakistan collapsed at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Hambantota, Sri Lanka. Pakistan won the match by 142 runs and Imam was the leading run scorer.[35]

Personal life edit

He was born in Multan, Punjab, on 22 December 1995 to a Syed Sunni Muslim family. His family had moved from the city of Hansi in Punjab ProvinceBritish India (now in HaryanaIndia) during the Partition of India.[36][2] He is the nephew of former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.[37][38]

References edit

  1. ^ Urdu: امام الحق
  1. ^ "Imam-ul-Haq". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Imam-ul-Haq reveals special connection with Multan ahead of West Indies ODIs". Samaa. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  3. ^ Imam-ul-Haq's profile on Sportskeeda
  4. ^ "'Mental torture'-Imam-ul-Haq says 'parchi' chants have prevented parents from watching him play for Pakistan". Wisden.
  5. ^ "Meet the new faces in the Pakistan Test squad". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Records / One-Day Internationals / Batting records / Hundred on debut". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Hasan five-for, he debut ton sink Sri Lanka". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  8. ^ "PCB Central Contracts 2018–19". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  9. ^ "New central contracts guarantee earnings boost for Pakistan players". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Final: Habib Bank Limited v Water and Power Development Authority at Karachi, Dec 10–15, 2016". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Final (D/N), National T20 Cup at Rawalpindi, Nov 30 2017". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  12. ^ "Imam-ul-Haq roped in by Somerset County Cricket club". Geo News. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  13. ^ "PSL - Pakistan Super League". PSL - Pakistan Super League. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Imam-ul-Haq called up to Pakistan's ODI squad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  15. ^ "3rd ODI (D/N), Sri Lanka tour of United Arab Emirates and Pakistan at Abu Dhabi, Oct 18 2017". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  16. ^ "Imam-ul-Haq becomes 2nd Pakistani to score century on debut". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  17. ^ "Only Test, Pakistan tour of Ireland, England and Scotland at Dublin, May 11-15 2018". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  18. ^ "Ireland win toss, opt to bowl in historic Test against Pakistan". Geo TV. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  19. ^ "Fakhar, Imam receive maiden call-ups to Ireland, England Tests". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  20. ^ "Fakhar Zaman, Imam-Ul-Haq Break All-Time Opening Partnership Record In ODIs". NDTV. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  21. ^ "Records galore as Pakistan rewrite history in Bulawayo". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  22. ^ "Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq march into the record books". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  23. ^ "Imam outpaces Kohli and Azam, reaches 1000 ODI runs". Business Recorder. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  24. ^ "Mohammad Amir left out of Pakistan's World Cup squad". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  25. ^ "Amir left out of Pakistan's World Cup squad". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Only T20I, Pakistan tour of England at Cardiff, May 5 2019". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  27. ^ "Imam century powers Pakistan to 358-9 in third ODI against England". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  28. ^ "Haider Ali the new face as Pakistan name 29-man touring party for England". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  29. ^ "Haider Ali named in 29-player squad for England tour". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  30. ^ "Pakistan shortlist players for England Tests". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  31. ^ "Wahab Riaz, Sarfaraz Ahmed in 20-man Pakistan squad for England Tests". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  32. ^ "James Vince trumps Babar Azam's 158 as England seal stunning 332 chase". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  33. ^ "Imam-ul-Haq seizes second Australia chance". Shepparton News. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  34. ^ "Imam, Shafique hit tons as Test ends in tame draw". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  35. ^ "afghanistan-v-pakistan-2023-1392508/afghanistan-vs-pakistan-1st-odi". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Inzamam-ul-Haq, 28 May 1997". Outlook India. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  37. ^ "Imam-ul-Haq: Pakistan great Inzamam's nephew hits debut 100 against Sri Lanka". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  38. ^ "Imam-ul-Haq set for 'dream' Pakistan Test debut". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 May 2018.

External links edit