(AP Photo)
Pakistan cricketer Imam-ul-Haq delivered a striking response after a fan questioned him about Babar Azam’s preference for Shadab Khan over him in the team. Imam emphasized that team selections aren’t based on friendships, and highlighted Shadab’s long-standing contributions to the squad.
Imam-ul-Haq has been a solid performer for the Pakistan cricket team over recent years. However, he has recently faced criticism due to a string of poor performances, particularly in ODIs and Tests.
Imam accumulated several low scores and was subsequently dropped from the playing XI during the ICC World Cup 2023. Although he played in the initial matches, his performances were lackluster, leading to his replacement by Fakhar Zaman.
Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique then made significant contributions with the bat, making it difficult for Imam-ul-Haq to regain his spot in the team. His struggles continued in the Test series against Australia, where he failed to make an impact and was eventually replaced by Saim Ayub.
In a TV show appearance, a fan asked Imam why captain Babar Azam, a good friend of both Imam and Shadab Khan, seemed to favor Shadab despite his recent poor form. Imam responded respectfully, defending Shadab Khan by pointing out his long tenure and valuable contributions to the team.
“Meri jaan, dosti yaari se team nahi banti (a team is not formed through friendships),” Imam-ul-Haq bluntly said. “Your perspective can be like that and I respect everyone.
“Shady (Shadab Khan) has been playing for a long time and he is not a newcomer. We can talk about his performance. But his debut was in 2016. If a boy has been playing for 8 years, it’s commendable.”
Imam-Ul-Haq says I am playing in ODIs, And Shadab is playing as an all-rounder.
Imam-ul-Haq further clarified that he has been playing primarily in ODIs, not T20Is, whereas Shadab Khan, as an all-rounder, participates in T20Is as well. Emphasizing his point, he stated:
“You guys don’t let anyone play for 3 matches. So, it is very difficult to play for 8 years. As far as I am concerned, I have not been playing T20s for a long time. I am playing in ODIs. And Shadab is playing as an all-rounder,” he concluded.
