PCB chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq sends alert to nephew Imam-ul-Haq

Pakistan batsman Imam-ul-Haq has often been taunted as a beneficiary of nepotism since he is the nephew of the legendary batsman and former captain of the country Inzamam-ul-Haq. The 22-year-old left-hand batsman had a dream start to his international career by hitting a hundred in debut ODI against Sri Lanka last year and then went on to slam three more tons in the next eight games. However, critics did not spare him still.

And now, with the bespectacled batsman failing to produce anything special for his country’s just-concluded home series against New Zealand, he has come under the scanner and it is none but the senior Haq, Pakistan’s chief selector at the moment, who has spoken up over the matter. Imam’s last half century came two months ago in the Test series against Australia and he could manage just 73 runs in five innings in the three-Test series against the Kiwis that Pakistan lost 1-2.

Imam could be dropped if he doesn’t score in next series

Saj Sadiq, editor of PakPassion.net, tweeted on the Imam issue on December 8 in which he quoted Inzamam as saying: “We want to give Imam some time to get his form back but if he does not score runs in the next series, he can also be excluded from the team.”

Pakistan next play South Africa in their den and the tour includes three Tests, five ODIs and three T20Is – the latest version though hasn’t seen Imam’s involvement till date.

Inzamam-ul-Haq "We want to give Imam some time to get his form back but if he does not score runs in the next series, he can also be excluded from the team" #Cricket

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) December 8, 2018

Imam, who was hit on his helmet by a bouncer from New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson during a recent ODI, averages 63 in 16 ODIs but his corresponding figure in Tests is below par at just over 30 after seven games with the highest score of 76 he scored against Australia recently. It’s still early days for the batsman who will turn 23 next week but the burden of charges of nepotism could prove to be too heavy for him.

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