Wasim Akram: “There is an undue pressure on Imam, he is a talented kid”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Legendary Pakistan pace bowler Wasim Akram feels that it is unfair for opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq to constantly be placed under pressure.

Akram pointed out that Imam is one of the only players in the national team who has consistently performed and had an impact with the bat.

With this in mind, Akram believes that people should stop taking aim at the 23-year-old and let him continue making his presence felt in Tests and ODIs.

“There is an undue pressure on Imam, he is a talented kid,” the 52-year-old was quoted as saying by the Business Recorder. “Recommendations cannot work at this stage, as we are talking about the Pakistan cricket team.

“Imam has come through a system, he has performed at Under 19, in domestic and even in South Africa, where nobody performed except Babar [Azam].”

Imam is constantly under scrutiny as he is the nephew of chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, but Akram pointed out that as long as Imam keeps performing, his place in the national team won’t be in jeopardy.

“There is unjustified pressure on Imam, he is a young guy, who is a good fielder and a team man, and he is only going to get better,” Akram said.