Imam-ul-Haq's 151 is the highest ODI score by a Pakistani against a non-Asian side (non-minnows)

[Muhammad10]

Yet another feather in the cap of one of our most awesome, underrated ODI batting prospects, following his stellar display in South Africa (in fact, he happens to be Pakistan's highest averaging ODI batsman in South Africa).

 

[Abdul]

Merit Azam could only dream of playing a knock like this.

 

[Muhammad10]

Merit Azam could only dream of playing a knock like this.

If Babar, or some "youngsta beauty talunt" like Sahibzada Farhan, had somehow played this sort of knock, one can only imagine how quickly the hype machine would proclaim him as being the next Kohli.

 

[shariqnoor]

Babar Azam is pure hype. Just 1 century against the big boys and he's supposed to be the best bat in Pakistan?

Imam may not have the talent of babar but I'd take Imam's grit and tenacity a million times over pretty-shot-maker Babar Azam.

Have rated Imam since the time he saved Pakistan's izzat against Ireland. Best find of the last couple of years. If he's a nepotistic selection, I want 10 more.

 

[Hawkeye]

Good effort.

Though it wasn't as good as the pitch and the conditions required. Morgan said at the end that Pak only managed to reach the PAR score and they were confident of chasing it down.

This is the first knock Imam has played at a good strike rate, against a good opposition.

Let's hope he can play more knocks at above 100 strike rate too and do justice to the pitch conditions.

 

[Muhammad10]

Good effort.

Though it wasn't as good as the pitch and the conditions required. Morgan said at the end that Pak only managed to reach the PAR score and they were confident of chasing it down.

This is the first knock Imam has played at a good strike rate, against a good opposition.

Let's hope he can play more knocks at above 100 strike rate too and do justice to the pitch conditions.

Was the player who scored 99 runs more than any other batsman in the side "not good enough"? Could it be that his teammates failed to really make their starts count in order for us to set the mammoth total his knock had facilitated?

I would say he did an ideal job of holding the innings together and accelerating simultaneously, as other batsmen kept coming and going, and at times we were in vulnerable positions (2-27, 3-95, 4-162) and actually seemed as if we might fall away after a decent start.

 

[Hawkeye]

Was the player who scored 99 runs more than any other batsman in the side "not good enough"? Could it be that his teammates failed to really make their starts count in order for us to set the mammoth total his knock had facilitated?

I would say he did an ideal job of holding the innings together and accelerating simultaneously, as other batsmen kept coming and going, and at times we were in vulnerable positions (2-27, 3-95, 4-162) and actually seemed as if we might fall away after a decent start.

None of us batted in the way this pitch and short boundaries demanded. Not just Imam.

Obviously Imam was our best batsman relative to others.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Good effort.

Though it wasn't as good as the pitch and the conditions required. Morgan said at the end that Pak only managed to reach the PAR score and they were confident of chasing it down.

This is the first knock Imam has played at a good strike rate, against a good opposition.

Let's hope he can play more knocks at above 100 strike rate too and do justice to the pitch conditions.

Did Morgan really have the audacity to say that 358 was a PAR score? )

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Here’s the thing. We as ppl are not fit enough to compete with the athletes of other major sporting nations. Look at Hockey, Football, Basketball or any other sports. Look at our Olympics performances. Our children are growing up in an environment that is going to give them nothing but poverty and malnutrition. PM in his speech said as much. Imam is doing what he can in his limited physical abilities. So is everyone. But we as a nation have failed to provide environment conducive for creating athletes.

 

[Zeshan547]

Here’s the thing. We as ppl are not fit enough to compete with the athletes of other major sporting nations. Look at Hockey, Football, Basketball or any other sports. Look at our Olympics performances. Our children are growing up in an environment that is going to give them nothing but poverty and malnutrition. PM in his speech said as much. Imam is doing what he can in his limited physical abilities. So is everyone. But we as a nation have failed to provide environment conducive for creating athletes.

You may have a point, but cricket is not football, WWE or athletics, so chill out.

 

[Naveedahmed1]

Harris is more talented than Imam and babar unfortunate that he can’t make it count

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

You may have a point, but cricket is not football, WWE or athletics, so chill out.

It’s still a sport.

 

[Hasan123]

Babar and Haris who get so much hype aren't capable of producing such a knock. They maybe able to score 100s but I don't see either scoring a knock like this. They don't seem to have much desire to improve as compared to Imam.

Imam was not the reason we didn't get more runs than we should have. Specialist captain only batted at a strike rate of 79, when Imam batted at a strike rate of 70 in the last game we were told he was the reason we lost. Obviously different rules apply for people not named Imam. Seeing Imam give some of our fans stomach ache is brilliant. Some of the abuse he has received has been a joke. You don't need to like his selection but that doesn't mean you don't treat him with respect. That fan who called him parchee must be ducking for cover right now.

 

[Ronaldo7]

Did Morgan really have the audacity to say that 358 was a PAR score? )

They won 5 overs before... What do you expect?

 

[msb314]

I believe it’s also the highest total by a Pakistani batsman in an ODI defeat...

 

[Majid Khan]

I believe it’s also the highest total by a Pakistani batsman in an ODI defeat...

The irony is if Imam played in a Pakistan team with the strong bowling attack that his famous uncle had the luxury of, with the likes of Wasim, Waqar, Shoaib, Saqlain, Mushtaq et al., probably all of his 100s would have been match winning efforts.

I can’t understand how much unfair criticism Imam ul Haq gets, and yet the guy has scored 6 centuries and averaging 60 in ODI cricket in a year or so of his career.

Did you guys prefer the mediocre 30 ish averaging openers Pakistan had for the last two decades instead like Hafeez, Shezad, Farhat, Kamran Akmal etc instead?

 

[Hawkeye]

Did Morgan really have the audacity to say that 358 was a PAR score? )

Yes!

And he's right. They chased it down with 5 overs to spare.

 

[the Great Khan]

Yes!

And he's right. They chased it down with 5 overs to spare.

Disgraceful that 359 is seen as a PAR score. England and the big three are turning cricket into a joke..

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Imam is good for providing a solid base, especially on dead tracks like these. We need more powerful middle order batsmen to turn good starts into winning scores. On pitches like this you can't really spend too many overs steadily accumulating, not when you have teams like England who will power on from the 10th over once the new ball has been negotiated.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Did Morgan really have the audacity to say that 358 was a PAR score? )

Considering your rubbish club level bowling attack, 400 is a par score too! ) It was because of Root the scoring rate dropped a bit at the later part of the innings, if Morgan or Buttler was next to bat after the first 2 wickets, the match would've finished at 30th over mark! Is Buttler playing in the next match?

 

[Bonafide Hustler]

He bats too slow. Its going to cost us the world cup because you need to take advantage of fielding restrictions in the first 10 overs when the balls are new. It is hard to score big at the end because of so many fielders out. Need aggressive openers.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Considering your rubbish club level bowling attack, 400 is a par score too! ) It was because of Root the scoring rate dropped a bit at the later part of the innings, if Morgan or Buttler was next to bat after the first 2 wickets, the match would've finished at 30th over mark! Is Buttler playing in the next match?

Tell me something, did you expect Pakistan to score 350+ in two consecutive games on this tour? If not, I really hope you're smart enough to realize what I'll say next.

Remember, baaqi sab nikal jaayenge par tu maara jaayega idher bachay

 

[MMHS]

Did Morgan really have the audacity to say that 358 was a PAR score? )

They had the audacity to make it under PAR to be honest - 6 wickets and 31 balls, means they chased it like 400 PAR, not 358 .... that too after altering the batting line-up to give Stokes/Moeen batting practice ..... and a Josh Buttler entirely missing. Morgan, (& the Brit commies) as a good host was diplomatic, hence didn't try to get under skin - if it was in Australia, you could have heard some spicy comments from Ian Chappel .... again.

 

[Kianig89]

Wow amazing Matthew Imamonting

Seriously we lost that game as Imam played 20 balls too many for this 2knock

 

[hadi123]

What an innings this was. He can't be blamed for going too slow, even though this was a flat pitch. He played a good innings, started off well and accelerated at the right time.

 

[The_Odd_One]

The expectation from Imam is to score consistently, hit big hundreds, and bat at a 100+ SR, basically Imam has to be Tendulkar + Buttler combo. On the other hand, Babar does not need to make any impact with his batting like in Asia cup and SA, to be called talented and Pakistan's best batsman.

 

[Usman Chadda]

They had the audacity to make it under PAR to be honest - 6 wickets and 31 balls, means they chased it like 400 PAR, not 358 .... that too after altering the batting line-up to give Stokes/Moeen batting practice ..... and a Josh Buttler entirely missing. Morgan, (& the Brit commies) as a good host was diplomatic, hence didn't try to get under skin - if it was in Australia, you could have heard some spicy comments from Ian Chappel .... again.

All this tells is the ridiculous mindset of these English lads right now. I highly doubt a player from any other team would have the guts to say 358 is a PAR score.

They have chased down two 350+ scores in a couple of months. The amount of records these guys keep breaking is unbelievable and it shows in their mindset

 

[Hyperion66]

Merit Azam could only dream of playing a knock like this.

This. I wish PP had a like button.

How many centuries does merit Azam have against top teams?

Bhatija already has a few if I remember correctly.

 

[Ronaldo7]

This. I wish PP had a like button.

How many centuries does merit Azam have against top teams?

Bhatija already has a few if I remember correctly.

1 vs aus

 

[Hyperion66]

1 vs aus

Thanks, I remember now. If Imam played a knock like that he would have been bashed left right center here in PP.

 

[Abdullah]

Harris is more talented than Imam and babar unfortunate that he can’t make it count

I feel like going to a game and hitting that guy.
Was looking a million dollars and he then gets run out.
His running is awful
There is so much talent there