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[PICTURES] Imam-ul-Haq named as replacement after Fakhar Zaman ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 [Post Updated #59]

Is Imam-ul-Haq the right choice as replacement for Fakhar Zaman?


  • Total voters
    27
You probably don’t know major as well as I do. He’s virtue signaling here as if he’s some beacon of humanity. This guy has shady moral integrity and has a history of making controversial posts. He was found celebrating violence and torture on workers that didn’t line up with his political views in numerous occasions. He’s crying because I mentioned Babar. If it was someone he disliked, that all would have been fine.
Almost everyone including wasim akram and ex pakiatani legends want Babar to exit the side now.

It's reached a point that literally no one can defend this.

First the argument was that He is > Kohli, then the argument was that Kohli is > however Babar is class and is the best Pakistani batsmen of all time(no joke i can ping the posters who said this, show the tweets + ramiz raja claiming he's Bradman lol)

Then the argument was that he's not Pakistan's best ever batter but the best in the current line up.

Then the argument was that he's going through a bad patch and will recover.

Then the argument was that their is no one else and once saim ayub and fakhar came along everyone has run out of arguments.
 
Almost everyone including wasim akram and ex pakiatani legends want Babar to exit the side now.

It's reached a point that literally no one can defend this.

First the argument was that He is > Kohli, then the argument was that Kohli is > however Babar is class and is the best Pakistani batsmen of all time(no joke i can ping the posters who said this, show the tweets + ramiz raja claiming he's Bradman lol)

Then the argument was that he's not Pakistan's best ever batter but the best in the current line up.

Then the argument was that he's going through a bad patch and will recover.

Then the argument was that their is no one else and once saim ayub and fakhar came along everyone has run out of arguments.
Exactly. People have had enough of this fraudster. People calling him GOAT when he’s not even the best player in his team lol. Hasn’t won Pakistan anything in his entire career.
Anyways this thread is not about babar. I just wish we still had Fakhar to have any sliver of hope of competing against India which now looks like a one sided event.
 
Exactly. People have had enough of this fraudster. People calling him goat when he’s not even the best player in his team lol. Hasn’t won Pakistan anything in his entire career.
Anyways this thread is not about babar. I just wish we still had Fakhar to have any sliver of hope of competing against India which now looks like a one sided event.
Their still bobby die hard fans like @daytrader @heddie19 and a few others who to this day claimed that Babar is the best Pakistani batsmen of all time.

Daytrader firmly believes that Babar will surpass YK in tests since apprantly he'll help Pakistan win WTC. Heddie believes Babar is a better batsmen then David Warner lol.

But a majority of them have dwindled now.
 
POLL ADDED GUYS.


As expected.... Imam was the front runner and selected rightly.
Well merry go around continues same players coming and going as a team we are going no where did anyone actually think that this team had the capability to match top teams now one player who could play few shots has been sidelined his replacement can't play a shot in anger is going to save us Allah Almighty help this team we will struggle to beat Bangladesh never mind India
Best friends reunite Bobby to open with imam .
I bet this announcement has sent shivers to our opponents a man who can't play a shot to save his life replaces a fearless batsmen this is like replacing a pedigree race horse with a donkey
 
There is still another issue. Tayyab Tahir and the mid wicket fielder lol
Fakhar should have never come out to bat yesterday... He himself was under-pressure because he was unable to hit the balls and he also put pressure on babar by refusing singles to him... It was not a good decision to send him out there.
 
We are overlooking our bowling just because batsman didnt play that well but our bowling rn is atrocious and i hope moving out of home ll be beneficial for them as next game isnt in karachi or lahore
 
We are overlooking our bowling just because batsman didnt play that well but our bowling rn is atrocious and i hope moving out of home ll be beneficial for them as next game isnt in karachi or lahore
Of course our bowling is equally to blame especially death overs but on these flat beds it's a shoot out between the batsman and we don't have the firepower to challenge other teams they have superior hard hitters as soon as they press the accelerator our bowlers start to panic like yesterday abrar last over was terrible and kiwis never looked back they tore into every bowler after that.
 
Got to back him now, even though he’ll probably fail against India and then score a century vs Bangladesh in a dead rubber.
 
Imam can do his required job better than Babar & Rizwan, he’s in good nick and scored some runs against a full strength South Africa recently. However, the problems start when you pair him with the two other numpties (Babar/Rizwan) who have to play no matter what.

But again, this team and set up play draconian cricket. In ODI’s, you don’t need players to see off the new ball anymore.

People liked to laugh about Sharjeel coming back, but he was your top domestic performer in this format just before he was told he was never coming back, we made a case for his return 12 months ago. Now you’ve lost two attacking openers back to back. If Sharjeel was reintegrated into the set up by now, he would at least be filling half the void at the top.
 
It's not worth to save 1 run at the cost of losing a tournament.
Not sure if it is the wrong technique or the grounds or just plain bad luck. Two of the current best batters would have been playing.
 
Imam being a thorough professional is planning to immediately fly to UAE. He has made preparation plans already and is looking to complete all his shopping before the next crucial encounter.
 
R
Almost everyone including wasim akram and ex pakiatani legends want Babar to exit the side now.

It's reached a point that literally no one can defend this.

First the argument was that He is > Kohli, then the argument was that Kohli is > however Babar is class and is the best Pakistani batsmen of all time(no joke i can ping the posters who said this, show the tweets + ramiz raja claiming he's Bradman lol)

Then the argument was that he's not Pakistan's best ever batter but the best in the current line up.

Then the argument was that he's going through a bad patch and will recover.

Then the argument was that their is no one else and once saim ayub and fakhar came along everyone has run out of arguments.
Ramiz Raja played big hand in destroying him
 
Imam had issues against the short ball which teams ruthlessly exploited in the 2023 ODI WC. Has he rectified them?
 
20-2 in 10 overs but still want to make fun of Sharjeel Khan

Let’s rectify our issue with intent by bringing in Imam ul Haq…..who was dropped because of lack of intent
 
Another awful decision after a series of awful decisions. The whole selection committee needs to be fired after the champions trophy. Would love to be proven wrong but dont see any chance.
It’s like Allah’s mohr is on the hearts of PCB at the moment. They have completely lost the plot here!
 
Imam and Usman should open now... No need for saud
People who were part of the ODI side ever since the CWC 2023 are all back now. Fakhar and Imam who were holding the batting lineup for 3 years dropped like forever and then suddenly for CT they bring Saud , Faheem, Khusdil. only Asif Ali, Ifthikar Ahmed and Shadab Khan are missing and bring them in as well because they bring the experience but no stats or skillset to speak for them..
 
Pakistan always takes backward steps that is why we have not progressed we have not developed players properly this recycling old players is not good as bringing in young blood many posters say we don't have any young talent if that is the case might as well pack our bags and give up the game players like khawaja nafay, omair bin yousuf,hasan nawaz,and other batters performing in domestic competitions must be looked at we just can't continue recycling rubbish if you have played 20 odd games and not performed than move on try someone else.
 
Imam had issues against the short ball which teams ruthlessly exploited in the 2023 ODI WC. Has he rectified them?
why should he rectify ? this never happens in Pak cricket....

Babar and Rizwan has issues against spin bowling , if they are dropped now , will return after few series with same weakness. being exploited from ball 1.

Just like Hafeez had a career as opener without able to fix his technique for swing bowling and be steyns bunny forever.. Only Mickey put that to bed by putting him in the middle order and he was still adamant to bat at 3 , then slowly MA had that covered by putting BABAR at 3..
 
The deep underlying issues:
1) no bench strength
2) poor fitness issues
3) mediocre fielding
4) bowlers unable to contain when getting smashed
4) unsettled opening pair
5) extremely unreliable middle order
6) team planning and management not up to standards
7) no planning or preparation for big tournaments

These are the main ones and I’m sure there are more. Having fakhar zaman and saim ayub does make a difference but it’s not enough to make us competitive for big tournaments
Most of these are resolved with us not losing both our first-choice openers right before the tournament.

The others are features, not issues. Pakistan has won tournaments with mediocre fielding before.
 
20-2 in 10 overs but still want to make fun of Sharjeel Khan

Let’s rectify our issue with intent by bringing in Imam ul Haq…..who was dropped because of lack of intent

It’s funny, they make fun of Sharjeel’s inconsistency when at his worst he would get dismissed for 22 off 10 balls, not hold an end for 10 bloody overs!

If not Sharjeel, they should be demanding similar players, but instead they defend serial match losers and the pathetic defeat yesterday, these idiot fans don’t mind being humiliated again and again, they don’t learn and deserve to get bent like this.
 
I know he's not a popular name here on this forum which I agree with, however once Saim Ayub got injured & ruled out Imam should have been brought in.
 
Another awful decision after a series of awful decisions. The whole selection committee needs to be fired after the champions trophy. Would love to be proven wrong but dont see any chance.
Who are they left with , Shafique with 3 zeroes from SA series and Shan who was never given a chance in ODI cricket where he has had good domestic stats for...

if not these two then its cruel bring some new faces like Omair or Hurraira here..
 
I know he's not a popular name here on this forum which I agree with, however once Saim Ayub got injured & ruled out Imam should have been brought in.
not for Saim but yes for Abdullah Shafique.. Fakhar replacing Saim and Imam replacing Shafique would be the ideal one and an easy one for the selectors to go with.. These selectors should be smoking some HIGH grade stuff to come up with the selections that they have done so far for the tri-nation series and champions trophy

The stubborn buffoon they have in the form of Aaqib had other ideas and they have shoot themselves on their own foot...
 
FWIW, Fakhar is the only batsman in the Pakistan side who has worried me (an Indian fan) since, oh, I don’t know, Moyo, Inzi, YK, those guys.

Of the later lot, I’ll confess a few frissons of unease when Babar or Rizwan are at the crease, but nothing more. Fakhar, now, his loss is a serious blow in ODI games.
 
Imam can do his required job better than Babar & Rizwan, he’s in good nick and scored some runs against a full strength South Africa recently. However, the problems start when you pair him with the two other numpties (Babar/Rizwan) who have to play no matter what.

But again, this team and set up play draconian cricket. In ODI’s, you don’t need players to see off the new ball anymore.

People liked to laugh about Sharjeel coming back, but he was your top domestic performer in this format just before he was told he was never coming back, we made a case for his return 12 months ago. Now you’ve lost two attacking openers back to back. If Sharjeel was reintegrated into the set up by now, he would at least be filling half the void at the top.
Imam's sr is lower than Babar and Rizwan. He is among the slowest openers in world cricket. Sharjeel doesn't even play much domestics.
 
You need a Fakhar like opener in this lineup of tuk tuks. I would have selected Hassan Nawaz. His record is poor but has a lot of potential. Even M Harris was a good option.
 
Imam's sr is lower than Babar and Rizwan. He is among the slowest openers in world cricket. Sharjeel doesn't even play much domestics.

Babar/Rizwan both are not equipped to face elite opposition or maximise the PP. Their numbers are also inflated through playing mediocre opposition. Imam is still not the long term answer, but he can do the role Babar/Rizwan have much better then them and just got 90+ runs against a full strength SA team that included Rabada.
 
You need a Fakhar like opener in this lineup of tuk tuks. I would have selected Hassan Nawaz. His record is poor but has a lot of potential. Even M Harris was a good option.

They never considered attacking players to maintain the status quo and propagate a fallacy that it’s everyone else’s fault and not theirs, e.g take Babar’s soft 50 for example which wasn’t remotely threatening, his runs are designed to sell you a theory that he laid the platform and others could not score at 15 runs per over in the last 10. A few in the media like Urooj are not sleeping on this bs and hopefully more in the media wake up, but when you look at how PPers defend the pathetic performances I am not convinced.
 
These players are not the solution but I would send a message to the seniors by dropping both Babar/Rizwan and bringing in Imam & Hurraira who are close to the team being members of the Shaheens, the latter unfortunately is a gloveman so you know how it is there but someone should take a stand and get rid of the cancers in the team first, like how bad are we and how bad can we do after 22-2 off 10 bloody overs.
 
Look how many chances Rizwan has had, how he is treated like some omnipotent being, the charlatan is a serial failure. What has Hurraira done to not deserve a long rope ? he just got a century against a full strength SA team.
 
I feel sorry for Fakhar Zaman that it ended this way, but at least this time, the snakes will not be able to hide behind his batting. Fakhar Zaman is a modern great, he should hold his head high; the one batter who best represented true Pakistan fans and what it means to put on the green shirt.

The dogs of PCB/Saya did not want him around the set up to begin with and conspired against his captaincy prospects to make way for the Molvi, after this injury, I can’t imagine him coming back unless Naqvi’s surgery after the CT involves removing Babar/Rizwan.
 
They never considered attacking players to maintain the status quo and propagate a fallacy that it’s everyone else’s fault and not theirs, e.g take Babar’s soft 50 for example which wasn’t remotely threatening, his runs are designed to sell you a theory that he laid the platform and others could not score at 15 runs per over in the last 10. A few in the media like Urooj are not sleeping on this bs and hopefully more in the media wake up, but when you look at how PPers defend the pathetic performances I am not convinced.
PPers have no say in it.
Selections are based on political connections. Same goes for 'analysts' in media. For example, Kamran Akmal has been mentioning Shamyl Hussain for two straight days as replacement. Kamran is known PMLN supporter and Shamyl is son of Talat Hussain who is a prominent pro PML N journalist. You can connect the dots.
 
PPers have no say in it.
Selections are based on political connections. Same goes for 'analysts' in media. For example, Kamran Akmal has been mentioning Shamyl Hussain for two straight days as replacement. Kamran is known PMLN supporter and Shamyl is son of Talat Hussain who is a prominent pro PML N journalist. You can connect the dots.

PPers do reflect some of the opinions among the media who largely defend the players for their pathetic performances. In the world of social media, fan opinion does matter now, but again it’s largely supportive of mediocrity. When said views are held, it reinforces the current regime. Obviously there’s no denying that the political influence is always going to be there, it has for decades, but when you got a cult who worship bang average / cowardly cricket, it makes change all the more difficult.
 
I feel sorry for Fakhar Zaman that it ended this way, but at least this time, the snakes will not be able to hide behind his batting. Fakhar Zaman is a modern great, he should hold his head high; the one batter who best represented true Pakistan fans and what it means to put on the green shirt.

The dogs of PCB/Saya did not want him around the set up to begin with and conspired against his captaincy prospects to make way for the Molvi, after this injury, I can’t imagine him coming back unless Naqvi’s surgery after the CT involves removing Babar/Rizwan.
Fakhar was never interested in captaincy. He lacks that personality. He remained out mostly due to fitness issues.

What do you think of Rizwan's victories in Aus and SA ? Can you really blame Rizwan in this CT considering that Naqvi appointed management selects playing XI on top of selecting an atrocious squad.

Removing Babar and Rizwan won't solve a damn thing considering next WC is in SA and both of them have done well there.
This top order is not bad.

Fakhar
Saim
Babar
Rizwan
Salman
 
I'd have thrown in Haseebullah khan. He deserves a chance in this format as an opener.

51 avg and 9 centuries in List A. That's a record you can't ignore.
 
Fakhar was never interested in captaincy. He lacks that personality. He remained out mostly due to fitness issues.

What do you think of Rizwan's victories in Aus and SA ? Can you really blame Rizwan in this CT considering that Naqvi appointed management selects playing XI on top of selecting an atrocious squad.

Removing Babar and Rizwan won't solve a damn thing considering next WC is in SA and both of them have done well there.
This top order is not bad.

Fakhar
Saim
Babar
Rizwan
Salman

Jos Butler was not interested in the England captaincy either, doesn’t mean he wasn’t the right man for the job. With Fakhar’s background, style of player and understanding of modern cricket, there’s no reason to believe he would not have accepted an offer. His fitness issues were exaggerated and they unfairly punished him for the tweets which ultimately took him out the captaincy race.

Rizwan accepted the captaincy based on being guaranteed selection powers which included not just the players, but support staff and coaches. Prior to the removal of Kirsten/Gillespie there were widespread reports of senior players behaving in an unprofessional manner with the coaches who were trying to get them to change their ways. The regime is certainly at fault for supporting a corrupt players like Rizwan & Babar who are connected with external agencies who meddle with Pakistan cricket affairs. PCB has been hammered by incompetency, corruption and all sorts for many years now, but since they’ve made Rizwan a central figure in all their cricket affairs I put the blame entirely on him.

Rizwan/Babar did nothing special, they scored some runs against an attack which didn’t include Rabada, Rizwan did get a 50 against him but it wasn’t anything special, this is the issue when fans overhype such milestones and start a culture of mediocrity. They did nothing special in Australia either with the bat against an unmotivated team. In this era, teams rarely play their full strength sides for an entire series, Pakistan are dumb enough to do this and cook their seamers especially, point is though, these series are usually utilised to build the bench strength.

If bilateral success correlated to ICC tournament success, then what have Babar/Rizwan achieved for their country in ICC tournaments ? They are humiliating their country at home now and we are talking about their selections in the next WC, god forbid these pu!!y’s are selected again. I would not put them in any top order in the world, I don’t mind the other names you mentioned; I will be shocked if we see Fakhar again.
 
Only in Pakistan cricket .....can a guy who was previously dropped several times for batting way too slow, be added to the squad after the team's biggest issue was batting too slow.

You cannot make this up.

Since Imam was dropped, the team has been batting even slower :yk

Therefore, Imad’s been watching the affairs like Thanos and saying ‘I’m inevitable’ to himself.

To be fair, he formed an ok partnership with Fakhar all those years ago. Pak were right to want to move on, providing they opened with two aggressive players at the top, but instead we’ve plunged to new lows each season.
 
Since Imam was dropped, the team has been batting even slower :yk

Therefore, Imad’s been watching the affairs like Thanos and saying ‘I’m inevitable’ to himself.

To be fair, he formed an ok partnership with Fakhar all those years ago. Pak were right to want to move on, providing they opened with two aggressive players at the top, but instead we’ve plunged to new lows each season.
Given Pakistan's batting woes. Fakhar, Imam and Babar top 3 was not a bad combo. At the time Pakistan lacked player like Salman in middle order.
 
Ain't IMAM from Rizbar school of thought, dab & nudge low risk 80sSR , addition of another anchor in team.

Off topic but his uncle and current team captain are partners in meat business @Rana
 
Why cant we select maaz or hassan nawaz in place of this torcher?
Hi the person who says he cant sight the ball and needs protein to hit sixes loll.
Worst player on my list after legwan and babri koukir.
 
Almost everyone including wasim akram and ex pakiatani legends want Babar to exit the side now.

It's reached a point that literally no one can defend this.

First the argument was that He is > Kohli, then the argument was that Kohli is > however Babar is class and is the best Pakistani batsmen of all time(no joke i can ping the posters who said this, show the tweets + ramiz raja claiming he's Bradman lol)

Then the argument was that he's not Pakistan's best ever batter but the best in the current line up.

Then the argument was that he's going through a bad patch and will recover.

Then the argument was that their is no one else and once saim ayub and fakhar came along everyone has run out of arguments.
still 1 excuse left

"2025 is babars year"

You can't kick him out until the end now just incase he scores a run a ball century on the 31st December 2025 at 23:59
 
Ain't IMAM from Rizbar school of thought, dab & nudge low risk 80sSR , addition of another anchor in team.

Off topic but his uncle and current team captain are partners in meat business @Rana
Also Saya + Inzi + Rizwan are partners in yazoo group.

Pakistan cricket is totally cooked.
 
Babar Azam in ODIs;

When Imam isn't playing: Babar's average is 50 and strike rate is 84.

When Imam is playing: Babar's average is 60 and strike rate is 90.

Imam's comfort alone gives Babar Azam a big boost.
 
If all of Imam, Saud , Babar , Rizwan are in playing XI then we have 4x anchors in team , could be recipe for disaster
 
In terms of mental strength Pakistan cricket has gone down the drain 2018 onwards. The players fold so badly in ICC tournaments that it's embarrassing. Not sure there is a solution as the country as a whole lacks confidence and ability in all facets.
 
Fakhar is an X factor player so can be hit or miss but Imam in Dubai and vs Bangladesh means guaranteed runs on the board which will give Pakistan an edge now because there will be runs on the board to put opposition under pressure.

This might be the boost Pakistan team needs.
 
If all of Imam, Saud , Babar , Rizwan are in playing XI then we have 4x anchors in team , could be recipe for disaster
The other day before newzealand game you were arguing Imam and abdullah should be in the playing XI and aqib is useless selector so on and on now you saying Imam is burden.

:lol
 
Fakhar is an X factor player so can be hit or miss but Imam in Dubai and vs Bangladesh means guaranteed runs on the board which will give Pakistan an edge now because there will be runs on the board to put opposition under pressure.

This might be the boost Pakistan team needs.

Taskin will take him out quick.
 
Jos Butler was not interested in the England captaincy either, doesn’t mean he wasn’t the right man for the job. With Fakhar’s background, style of player and understanding of modern cricket, there’s no reason to believe he would not have accepted an offer. His fitness issues were exaggerated and they unfairly punished him for the tweets which ultimately took him out the captaincy race.

Rizwan accepted the captaincy based on being guaranteed selection powers which included not just the players, but support staff and coaches. Prior to the removal of Kirsten/Gillespie there were widespread reports of senior players behaving in an unprofessional manner with the coaches who were trying to get them to change their ways. The regime is certainly at fault for supporting a corrupt players like Rizwan & Babar who are connected with external agencies who meddle with Pakistan cricket affairs. PCB has been hammered by incompetency, corruption and all sorts for many years now, but since they’ve made Rizwan a central figure in all their cricket affairs I put the blame entirely on him.

Rizwan/Babar did nothing special, they scored some runs against an attack which didn’t include Rabada, Rizwan did get a 50 against him but it wasn’t anything special, this is the issue when fans overhype such milestones and start a culture of mediocrity. They did nothing special in Australia either with the bat against an unmotivated team. In this era, teams rarely play their full strength sides for an entire series, Pakistan are dumb enough to do this and cook their seamers especially, point is though, these series are usually utilised to build the bench strength.

If bilateral success correlated to ICC tournament success, then what have Babar/Rizwan achieved for their country in ICC tournaments ? They are humiliating their country at home now and we are talking about their selections in the next WC, god forbid these pu!!y’s are selected again. I would not put them in any top order in the world, I don’t mind the other names you mentioned; I will be shocked if we see Fakhar again.
And Butler has lost 7 out of last 10 ODIs as captain. English team is a mess despite incredible talent.

Fakhar Zaman has never captained at domestic level either so there is no bases to an argument for his captaincy. Rizwan didn't came out of nowhere as captain. KP team won multiple domestic tournaments under his captaincy not to mention success in PSL.

I doubt senior players thing mentioned by Gillespie included Rizwan. Rizwan is probably the fittest in team. As for team selection, clearly this playing XI is not selected by Rizwan. See this link;

Link

I am not sure about external agencies point. You think Babar and Rizwan are raw agents ? Why need external agencies when you have a political appointee (who is also an alleged murderer) as PCB chief ?

In regards to Aus and SA tour, I meant Rizwan's captaincy. His field placements and bowling changes were spot on. We defeated a strong Aus side and decent SA team at their home. That cannot be ignored. In tri series and CT, management had this bright idea of taking away powers from captain (see given link) and results are in front of us.

I agree that Rizwan and Babar have no business in T20Is but calling for their exclusion from ODIs is nonsensical at this point. Maybe Babar if his bad form continues but given our talent pool and quality of domestics, he will be back in no time.
 
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