Sohaib Maqsood: “Imam-ul-Haq may be slightly better. Imam has miles better batting average than Abdullah”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Sohaib Maqsood feels opener Imam-ul-Haq “may be slightly better” than Abdullah Shafique.
Shafique is Pakistan’s preferred opening batsman at the moment, but hasn’t been in the best of form as of late.
The 25-year-old scored 113 runs in three ODIs against Australia, which included a top score of 64 not out, at an average of 56.50.
He then made 83 runs in three ODIs against Zimbabwe, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 41.50.
As for the ODI series against South Africa, the Sialkot native was dismissed for three ducks in a row.
Maqsood noted that Imam has a “miles better batting average” in ODIs compared to Shafique’s as it currently stands at 48.27 and 32.21 respectively.
Considering this, he questioned why Imam is not being selected in the ODI team and how Shafique is still managing to keep hold of his spot in the side.
“Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq both play with the same strike-rate. Imam-ul-Haq may be slightly better. Imam has miles better batting average than Abdullah. Imam has miles better domestic cricket performances than Abdullah, why [does] one get so much love and [the] other get hate and criticism?” Maqsood said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan and South Africa recently played a two-Test series, which the Proteas won 2-0.
Next up for Pakistan will be a two-Test series against the West Indies, which will take place in Karachi and Multan from January 16 to 28.
Imam has been recalled to the Test team for the series, while Shafique was dropped.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha