- Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq returned after group’s dismal England efficiency.
- Imam faces inquiry over suspicious calf muscle damage hypothesis.
- Earlier PCB inquiry discovered Imam responsible of faking damage.
Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq, one of many seven Pakistan gamers to be despatched again residence after the group’s heavy defeats to England in two Exams, made a quiet and low-profile return right here from London on Tuesday.
The defeats at Leeds and Lords, and the backlash on the group’s performances prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to take the drastic measure of not solely altering seven gamers but additionally changing the pinnacle coach and bowling coach of the touring squad halfway via the tour.
Inside data gathered from the PCB and group sources say that it was the damage concern with Imam and the nonchalant angle of Muhammad Rizwan which ultimately triggered the Board’s sturdy response.
“Imam is in massive bother and he’s additionally more likely to search authorized counsel when he has to seem to face an inquiry committee of the Board which can look into his calf muscle damage which didn’t permit him to bat in each innings of the second Take a look at,” one insider mentioned.
There was hypothesis on whether or not Imam faked his damage or not however the group administration had issued an announcement on the second day of the second Take a look at asserting he had sustained a calf muscle damage which later turned out to be a tear whereas fielding on the primary day of the match.
What has received Imam into sizzling waters was that chief selector Muhammad Wasim has publicly confirmed that former group physio Cliffe Deacon had knowledgeable him in regards to the opening batter’s suspicious damage patterns in 2022 throughout a Take a look at collection in opposition to England.
Extra damning has been how the mainstream media has performed up a inquiry committee report of the PCB from final yr through which the panel had discovered Imam responsible of faking a toe damage whereas touring New Zealand.
All this has led to the PCB deciding to carry an inquiry into the group performances, Imam’s damage and different dressing room points when the gamers return residence later this month from England.
However one supply mentioned the truth that the PCB didn’t even look ahead to the third and closing Take a look at to complete and took the drastic measure of sending senior gamers residence signifies one thing has gone unsuitable behind the scenes in Pakistan cricket and may need triggered the motion.
Imam, who can be the nephew of former captain and batting nice Inzamam-ul-Haq, has appeared in 31 Exams, 75 ODIs and two T20 Internationals in a Pakistan profession that started in 2017.
(Disclaimer: This report has been printed as a part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Aside from the headline, no enhancing has been achieved within the copy by ABP Reside.)
