Sohaib Maqsood: “Imam-ul-Haq has an ODI average of almost 49 with nine centuries. His domestic record also supports his inclusion in the team”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Sohaib Maqsood wants Imam-ul-Haq recalled to the ODI team as he believes the opener deserves it.
Imam has an excellent record in the 50-over format as he has scored 3,138 runs in 72 ODIs, which includes nine centuries and 20 fifties, at an average of 48.27.
Even though the 29-year-old hasn’t played ODI cricket since October 2023, he has remained active at the domestic level and recently featured in the Champions T20 Cup, where he amassed 256 runs in nine matches for the Lions, which included two half-centuries, at an average of 32 and a strike-rate of 136.17.
Additionally, Imam also did well in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which is Pakistan’s first-class competition as he finished as the third-highest run-scorer.
In five games for Multan Region, he struck 635 runs, which included three centuries and a fifty, at an average of 79.37.
Imam was overlooked for Pakistan’s tours of Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
However, he was recalled to the Test team for the two-match series against the West Indies in Multan, which ended as a 1-1 draw.
Unfortunately for him, he was not included in the playing XI for both matches.
With the 2025 Champions Trophy fast approaching, Maqsood thinks it’s time for Imam to be recalled to the ODI team as he knows the Lahore native is the right man to be opening the batting for Pakistan.
“Imam-ul-Haq has an ODI average of almost 49 with nine centuries. His domestic record also supports his inclusion in the team,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
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