Pakistan’s opening batter, Imam-ul-Haq, has voiced strong criticism of the country’s cricket selectors, accusing them of fostering inconsistency and favoritism in team selections. Speaking candidly on a podcast, Imam declared that the current state of Pakistan cricket is the worst he has witnessed in his seven-year career, pointing to key defeats that have further damaged the team’s reputation.
Imam, who was not part of Pakistan’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, reflected on the team’s shocking loss to the USA in the tournament. This defeat, along with a subsequent loss to India, exposed deeper issues within the team, according to Imam. “I wasn’t in the T20 World Cup, but I’ve heard stories that things went worse than during the ODI World Cup,” he revealed. The loss to the USA, followed by a heart-wrenching defeat to India despite being in a winning position, were pivotal moments that highlighted Pakistan’s struggles.
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Reflecting on the India game, Imam expressed his frustration over the team’s inability to close out matches. “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,” he said, emphasizing how the team’s performance slipped in crucial moments.
Imam believes that a return to form is essential for the team’s confidence, noting that changes in leadership, such as the captaincy, are not enough to restore stability. “A win is very important for the return of confidence,” he stated. “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.”
The opening batter also took issue with the perceived favoritism in Pakistan’s selection process. He criticized the selectors for giving some players more opportunities than others, despite similar abilities. “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, adding that inconsistent selections harm the players’ confidence.
Imam’s concerns reflect deeper frustrations within the team, especially as Pakistan continues to experience a rollercoaster of performances. After being eliminated from the 2024 T20 World Cup, the team suffered a historic 2-0 Test series loss at home to Bangladesh. However, they managed to bounce back with a 2-1 victory over England in the next Test series and a 2-1 win in an ODI series in Australia, although they struggled in the T20I series that followed.
Currently, Pakistan is competing in an ODI series in South Africa, having won the opening match, but the team still faces challenges in finding consistent form and overcoming internal issues.
