I am not sure if Ul Haq watches any domestic cricket. Recently, I came to know that PP people refers new/young players to Mickey/Azhar - which shouldn't be the case, approach should have been to CS - it does tell something about Ul Haq.
More or less, outside hype from PSL, in last 2.5 years, only young player he has picked is his nephew - this is what I posted in some other thread -
In Imam's case, good luck to the boy, and he has put numbers against SRL & ZIM. BUT, his selection is biased, tactfully done to create a vacuum and this will cost PAK one day, because this was nepotism.
First, above 3/4 candidates, no way this kid should have got the chance in squad - they picked him as opener and made sure that he gets games. To his credit, he has cashed on, so fair enough, but as I say, PAK will face nemesis for this one.
I give straight names for this - no way, Imam should have been picked ahead of Saud, who is senior by one U19 WC, better performer in every aspect, was invested through A team (& did well there), and he can bowl a bit as well. And, if I consider how both looks as a batsman while batting beyond stats - absolutely no comparison. If you look at their over all domestic stats,
Saud - FC (25 games): avg/sr 47/49, 100-6, 50-12; 12 wickets at 48. List A (44): a/s 50/85, 100-2, 50-12; 20 wickets @ 42
Imam (including Internationals) - FC (39 games): avg/sr 36/44, 4/12, 1 wicket. List A (37): a/s 40/78, 5/6; 1 wicket.
These figures are misleading, because Imam's stats are inclusive of Internationals and he was lucky to face Post Mughabe ZIM. This is his International stats,
Test (3): 34/51, 0/1, 0 wickets. ODI (9), 68/88, 4/0, zero wicket.
SO<> if I take out internationals from Imam's stats - BASICALLY at the point when Ul Haq picked his nephew for the imaginary vacuum in opening spot from no where, this was his stats
FC (36): 36/44; 4/11, 1 wicket. List A (28): 32/72, 1/6, zero wicket.
I still give a bod to Ul Haq, imandar admi - we should look at the contemporary stats - lets take 2017-18 domestic season, which started before SRL series, FC completed before NZ tour and season completed well before UK/ZIM tour.
Saud: FC: 7 games, 488 runs at 38/51, 1/4; 6 wickets @ 32. List A: 15 games, 722 runs @ 66 average, 1/5 and as usual PCB's data has SR for FC game but not for List A; 13 wickets @ 25
Imam: FC - 5 games, 222 runs at 28, no wicket, 1/0. List A: 4 games, 40 runs at 10 average, 0/0 and didn't bowl.
Nothing against the kid & I wish him success, but he is the best specimen of nepotism in PAK cricket.
I have nothing against Imam's Test selection, because his game suits that format and he can develop into a steady Test opener; but no way in ODI. Why - his last ODI innings should give a clue -
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...s-pakistan-6th-match-super-four-asia-cup-2018
83 after batting 41 overs while chasing and his effort took an initial asking of 4.8 to ~8.4, for a target of 240!!!! I know our bowling standard and that day, we were missing 2 bowlers - first Shakib missed out for injury & then our English coach dropped a regular spinner for a batting "all-rounder" - Soumya & Mahmudullah bowled 15 overs between them (& Mash 6) for the entire period Imam was in middle ....... and he made the asking almost double in 40'5 overs!!!!!
Come on guys - FGS, PAK should have better standard than this.
also scored 58* in his recent innings - which doesn't give that confidence
