Sohaib Maqsood on Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq: “He got a little advantage of being [the] nephew of Inzamam-Ul-Haq and friend of Babar Azam in the past. Now that seems to be [a] disadvantage for his selection these days”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Sohaib Maqsood believes opener Imam-ul-Haq is not being selected right now because he is the nephew of legendary captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and friend of batsman Babar Azam.
Maqsood pointed out that both these relationships used to be a good thing back in the day, but it seems that it has become a “disadvantage” now.
With Imam not being picked for Pakistan’s recent limited overs series against Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, he played for the Lions in the Champions T20 Cup and amassed 256 runs in nine matches, which included two fifties, at an average of 32 and a strike-rate of 136.17.
“He got a little advantage of being [the] nephew of Inzamam-Ul-Haq and friend of Babar Azam in the past. Now that seems to be [a] disadvantage for his selection these days,” Maqsood said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan and South Africa are now playing a two-Test series, which the Proteas lead 1-0 after winning the 1st Test in Centurion by two wickets.
The 2nd Test began on January 3 in Cape Town.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha