Imam expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of Pakistan cricket, describing it as the worst he has experienced in his career
19 December, 2024
PHOTO:AFP
Pakistan’s opening batter, Imam-ul-Haq, has raised concerns over the team’s selection process, accusing the selectors of applying inconsistent criteria and fostering a culture of "liking and disliking" when it comes to choosing players.
In a candid interview, Imam, who has represented Pakistan for over seven years, expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of Pakistan cricket, describing it as the worst he has experienced in his career.
Reflecting on recent disappointing performances, Imam highlighted the shocking loss to the USA, a result he believes severely impacted Pakistan’s standing in the competition.
"I wasn’t in the T20 World Cup, but I’ve heard a few stories that I feel are worse than the ODI World Cup. I think only those players who were on the field can truly tell what happened," Imam said.
The 28-year-old also pointed to Pakistan’s narrow defeat to India in the ICC events, where the team, despite being in a winning position and needing just a run-a-ball, collapsed dramatically. He emphasized how such losses contributed to the team’s morale issues.
"Losing that match to the USA and then to India... You come to a winning situation where you need a run-a-ball and then lose from that point," Imam lamented.
Imam stressed that a victory is crucial for restoring confidence in the team, noting the changes in leadership and the pressure to perform.
"A win is very important for the return of confidence. Although things are changing—captaincy has changed—and I think this happens in every country. You cannot control it. Only a win can save us from all these issues," he said.
Turning his attention to the selection process, Imam criticized the culture of favoritism, accusing selectors of creating disparities in player opportunities. He believes some players are favored over others, despite having similar abilities, which, in turn, affects the overall team dynamic.
"We gave our players consistent chances, but we didn’t get the results in the ODI World Cup. Other sides rely on giving consistent opportunities," Imam explained. "If you are giving a player 15 matches while another player of similar caliber gets only three matches, then you’re creating problems for yourself. Selection criteria vary from player to player, based on liking or disliking," he added.
Imam also noted the damaging impact of such inconsistencies on players’ confidence, with his remarks highlighting the growing frustration within the squad.
"The confidence of every player is shaken from top to bottom. I don’t think I’ve seen Pakistan play this badly in my seven-year career. It’s our fault as well—whether it’s the one-day World Cup or Test cricket, the boys are not delivering those performances, whether it’s fitness or form," Imam concluded.
Pakistan’s cricket team has faced a turbulent period in recent months, marked by both triumphs and setbacks. After being eliminated from the T20 World Cup, they suffered a historic 2-0 loss to Bangladesh in a home Test series, which was Bangladesh’s first-ever Test series win over Pakistan. However, the team bounced back with a 2-1 series win over England in the next home Test series.
In ODI cricket, Pakistan secured a 2-1 series win against Australia in Australia, though they fell short in the subsequent T20I series. Currently, the team is competing in an ODI series in South Africa, having won the opener, but they lost the recent three-match T20I series 2-0.
