"To score against South Africa, you have to be at your very best" : Imam-ul-Haq

[Abdullah719]

Opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq has insisted Pakistan will not lack motivation, come the third and final Test against South Africa, which will get under way at the Wanderers on Friday.

Defeats in the first Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion and second at Newlands in Cape Town have seen Paksitan concede the series. A three-nil whitewash, though, can be avoided in Johannesburg.

‘We lost the series, we know that, but the last match is very important for us because we have to make a statement as we have been working very hard for the last two months,’ said Imam, who is the nephew of former captain and current chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq.

‘We have learnt a lot. Some guys have had some good innings in the two Test matches. We are still working hard on it and hopefully we will do better in the last Test.’

The 23-year-old left-hander scored zero and 57 in the first match and eight and six in the second. He has not fallen to one bowler more than once, instead affording Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Duanne Olivier and Kagiso Rabada his dismissal each.

‘To score against South Africa, you have to be at your very best, mentally strong and prepare well. The wickets are so difficult here. It is very difficult to start on, but when you do get a start it is easier,’ he added.

‘Before coming here I knew it was not going to be easy, but it is all about the hard work you do in the net sessions.’

https://www.sacricketmag.com/mental-strength-key-for-ul-haq/

 

[Syed1]

Or have chachu as chief selector, then you don't have to worry about such trivial things as making runs.

 

[Hasan123]

Imam needs to be taken out of the spotlight. The fact he is Inzis nephew doesn't help. People are rightly saying he is in the team due to nepotism. He is being picked in tests and ODIs despite being in pathetic form. The critiscm and the consistent exposure isn't very easy to recover from mentally.

Inzi isn't helping his nephew out at all.

 

[kingusama92]

"...who is the nephew of former captain and current chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq."

Writer making sure everyone knows.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Id love to see if imam is practicing his slashing to the slips shot in nets as it seems to be his favourite shot.

 

[hadi123]

He's shown he is capable of playing good innings, he's only young, let's see how he does in the 3rd test.

 

[iPakistani]

Imam needs to be taken out of the spotlight. The fact he is Inzis nephew doesn't help. People are rightly saying he is in the team due to nepotism. He is being picked in tests and ODIs despite being in pathetic form. The critiscm and the consistent exposure isn't very easy to recover from mentally.

Inzi isn't helping his nephew out at all.

He made it difficult the moment he introduced him to international cricket when he hardly had any exposure or runs to back him up at domestic level.

Best thing for Imam now is to send him back to domestic let him play a year or 2, see how he performs and if he's good enough he will be selected on merit. Keeping him in the team like this will grow even more dislike for him from the fans and will do his own mental state no good.

 

[iPakistani]

He was selected for both the ODI and Test team boasting an average of:

33.73 in 45 FC matches. 4 100's, 14 50's.
33.73 in 30 List A matches. 1 100, 7 50's.

 

[iPakistani]

He was selected for both the ODI and Test team boasting an average of:

33.73 in 45 FC matches. 4 100's, 14 50's.
33.73 in 30 List A matches. 1 100, 7 50's.

Whereas players like Usman Salahuddin, Abid Ali, Saud Shakeel, Saad Ali, Fawad Alam are all sat on the sidelines even though their domestic stats are levels above Imam's.

I see alot of potential in Imam but him being selected like this atleast in the test side is not fair to everyone else grinding it out in domestic for no reward.

 

[coy0607]

‘To score against South Africa, you have to be at your very best, mentally strong and prepare well. The wickets are so difficult here. It is very difficult to start on, but when you do get a start it is easier,’ he added.

https://www.sacricketmag.com/mental-strength-key-for-ul-haq/

Pitches seem even more difficult to bat on when you are incompetent

 

[hadi123]

Whereas players like Usman Salahuddin, Abid Ali, Saud Shakeel, Saad Ali, Fawad Alam are all sat on the sidelines even though their domestic stats are levels above Imam's.

I see alot of potential in Imam but him being selected like this atleast in the test side is not fair to everyone else grinding it out in domestic for no reward.

Yes but those players you mentioned are middle order batsmen, not openers, which is an area we are really struggling in. Imam got a chance because of lack of alternatives, in the series before his debut, the openers were Sami Aslam and Shan Masood, who were both struggling, obviously Masood has improved incredibly in the last few months but he was rubbish back then, and Sami Aslam was struggling too.

 

[angrypathan]

Your best is not good enough Imam

 

[unemployedgm]

Imam is talented but he's been picked out of turn. In the long run that will negatively impact his career. Once Inzamam is gone, Imam will be dropped. It will be the easiest decision any new selector makes and will have the backing of every fan. From then on no matter what Imam does he will always be considered a product of nepotism. Inzamam is doing a great disservice to Pakistan and his nephew.

Many Pakistanis moaned about Faisal Iqbal and Bazid Khan. To be honest they should have both played more for Pakistan. But once it was established that they had connections, it hurt them in the long run.

 

[King-Misbah]

Or have chachu as chief selector, then you don't have to worry about such trivial things as making runs.

Not always true #AsadShafiq

Anyways, Imam needs to shut up and score runs.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Should expect Shan Masood to open with Fakhar in the ODI series but won't be surprised to see him coming in No.3 with Fakhar and Imam opening.

 

[Snak3eye5]

Should expect Shan Masood to open with Fakhar in the ODI series but won't be surprised to see him coming in No.3 with Fakhar and Imam opening.

Can’t wait for Saad, Shaqeel, Rizwan and Saud to start.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Can’t wait for Saad, Shaqeel, Rizwan and Saud to start.

Don't think they will do. Babar, Hafeez and Malik will be the middle order.

 

[sshakir411]

Imam is a good kid and I expect him to bounce back. Let’s not forget we were carrying Ahmed Shehzad when Imam came in to the team. He earned his call up and anyone who thinks otherwise is literally an airhead

 

[Arsalan Pro]

Should expect Shan Masood to open with Fakhar in the ODI series but won't be surprised to see him coming in No.3 with Fakhar and Imam opening.

They surely won't change the batting order of Pakistan's best batsman and one of the best in the World 'Babar Azam' for either Imam or Shan, only one should play and on current form it should be Shan Masood.

 

[TeymurBlake]

They surely won't change the batting order of Pakistan's best batsman and one of the best in the World 'Babar Azam' for either Imam or Shan, only one should play and on current form it should be Shan Masood.

I actually hadn't thought of that, maybe they might move Fakhar to 6 or move Shan to No.4. I personally don't want Imam to play but you never know.

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

he means he will not perform in the next test either so don't have high hopes..atleast he is honest that he is a dud

 

[Amjid Javed]

He was selected for both the ODI and Test team boasting an average of:

33.73 in 45 FC matches. 4 100's, 14 50's.
33.73 in 30 List A matches. 1 100, 7 50's.

Stats are irrelevant, He was selected pure based on his surname

 

[in_cutter]

These guys need to shutup & perform

 

[Green Patriot]

I hardly see our batsmen performing well at all.The best chance they had was at newlands.

This is Jo'burg,possibly the hardest for batting.This is the ground where we folded for 49.I dont see anybody scoring here.

 

[Shandarchowka]

I hardly see our batsmen performing well at all.The best chance they had was at newlands.

This is Jo'burg,possibly the hardest for batting.This is the ground where we folded for 49.I dont see anybody scoring here.

I read they're preparing a dry-ish pitch to make up for the poor rating they received last year against India. Best chance for us to win a game atr Wanderers and time for Shadab to play!

My team -

Imam
Shan
Azhar
Asad
Babar
Sarfraz
Faheem
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Abbas

 

[Green Patriot]

I read they're preparing a dry-ish pitch to make up for the poor rating they received last year against India. Best chance for us to win a game atr Wanderers and time for Shadab to play!

My team -

Imam
Shan
Azhar
Asad
Babar
Sarfraz
Faheem
Shadab
Amir
Hasan
Abbas

That is good news but you are still underestimating our batting.
They have an incredible talent of collapsing even if they are batting on a highway.

Btw,why have you not included Shaheen.Is that because of some rumors about his fitness floating around?Because otherwise,with his height he might generate more bounce and be a handful.He hasnt been bad either in the first 2 matches.

 

[Shandarchowka]

That is good news but you are still underestimating our batting.
They have an incredible talent of collapsing even if they are batting on a highway.

Btw,why have you not included Shaheen.Is that because of some rumors about his fitness floating around?Because otherwise,with his height he might generate more bounce and be a handful.He hasnt been bad either in the first 2 matches.

I feel Shaheen has been rushed into test cricket. He should go and play some counties/first class back home. He gets tired and loses pace quickly by second spell. He's been quite disappointing in the first two tests. Hasan is clearly better at this moment. Hasan can add some useful runs too.

 

[Green Patriot]

I feel Shaheen has been rushed into test cricket. He should go and play some counties/first class back home. He gets tired and loses pace quickly by second spell. He's been quite disappointing in the first two tests. Hasan is clearly better at this moment. Hasan can add some useful runs too.

I second you on this.i believe that the PCB does not manage players well and we end up losing good players who might have gone on to be great if handled well.

But still our pace department is very mediocre,with Abbas not being his usual self coming right after an injury and Amir,even though has picked wickets hasn't been threatning enough.Hasan bowls well but for every good bowl he bowls 3-4 erratic ones,releasing all the pressure.Which is why i personally feel Shaheen might be better.He can play the last and then perhaps be rested.We dont have any tests coming up for another 10 months or so,anyways.

 

[Shandarchowka]

I second you on this.i believe that the PCB does not manage players well and we end up losing good players who might have gone on to be great if handled well.

But still our pace department is very mediocre,with Abbas not being his usual self coming right after an injury and Amir,even though has picked wickets hasn't been threatning enough.Hasan bowls well but for every good bowl he bowls 3-4 erratic ones,releasing all the pressure.Which is why i personally feel Shaheen might be better.He can play the last and then perhaps be rested.We dont have any tests coming up for another 10 months or so,anyways.

True but Shaheen is still very raw. I feel Hasan can deliver it with the ball as Shaheen failed to do so in the last 2 games. Amir, Hasan, Abbas are all different bowlers and will be effective together as a group, I think.

 

[srh]

He's shown he is capable of playing good innings, he's only young, let's see how he does in the 3rd test.

now there is no pressure so he should perform

 

[MenInG]

Doing ok this morning but can he get a big score?

 

[hadi123]

Out for 43. I think 2nd innings is his last chance to impress. If he fails then he should be worried. If he does good then he probably earns another series