Twitterati bashes Imam-ul-Haq for lack of intent during his century versus Bangladesh

Imam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan opener is a batsman has loads of potential. He started his career with a century against Sri Lanka back in 2017 and since has grown from strength of strength. However, Imam has had his fair share of difficulties in the ongoing World Cup in England and Wales. In the first eight games of the league stage, he managed only a solitary half-century and got out after getting starts on most occasions.

The 23-year-old got a few scores in the 30s and 40s, but couldn’t go on and convert them. But in the ninth and final game against Bangladesh at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, Imam put up a much better show in the hour of desperation. The left-hander racked up his seventh ODI century off 99 balls. Moreover, he also carved his name on the renowned Lord’s Honours Board.

Calm and collected Imam

Imam didn’t go hammer and tongs to start his knock and was rather cautious. He played out Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the initial few overs as the spinner showed exceptional accuracy. In the eighth over, he lost Fakhar Zaman as his partner. Thereafter, Imam stitched together a valuable partnership of 157 runs with Babar Azam to well and truly put the Men in Green on the driver’s seat.

He got to his half-century off 52 deliveries. In the 32nd over, Babar perished to Mohammad Saifuddin after scoring 96. However, Imam carried on his own merry way and accomplished his ton. He was a tad nervous in his 90s and slowed down a wee bit. Nevertheless, in the third ball of the 42nd over, the youngster patted the leather down the ground to raise his arms in delight on achieving the personal milestone.

A couple of balls later, Mustafizur Rahman nipped him out after Imam stepped on to the stumps while playing a stroke. In the meantime, despite his stupendous knock, Pakistan fans bashed him left, right and centre for not showing enough intent. The national team was needed to win the game by a margin of over 300 runs and the fans weren’t happy with the way Imam went about his job.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Imam’s slow hundred: