Tag: Imam Ul Haq

Pakistan’s top-order batter Imam-ul-Haq has moved to clear the air after his recent social media post, regarding marriage, sparked widespread speculation about his personal life, insisting that his remarks were taken out of context.

Earlier this week, the left-handed opener shared a story on Instagram, describing marriage in the current era as “actually scary.”

The post quickly went viral, prompting fans to speculate about potential issues in his marriage, with some even suggesting that he had unfollowed his wife, Anmol Mehmood, on social media.

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However, Imam has now issued a clarification, stating that his post was merely a general observation about trends he has noticed online and not a reflection of his own relationship.

“You [all] took that post way too seriously just to clarify my recent post was a general observation about what we’re seeing on social media these days, not about my own marriage,” he wrote on Instagram.

He further reassured fans that his personal life remains stable, adding, “Everything’s perfectly fine on my side, Alhamdulillah,” while urging people to avoid jumping to conclusions or spreading unverified rumours.

Imam-ul-Haq, who got married in November 2023, has been a regular feature in Pakistan’s batting lineup across formats since making his debut in 2017.

The 30-year-old has represented the national side in 26 Tests, 75 ODIs and two T20Is, amassing 4,860 runs with 12 centuries and 30 half-centuries to his name.

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KARACHI: Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq’s rich vein of form continued as he struck an unbeaten 176 off 182 balls for Multan against Dera Murad Jamali during the second day of round two in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy here at the National Bank Stadium on Friday.

Imam returned home after playing the One Day Cup for Yorkshire in England. The left-hander was in sublime form during the tournament as he finished as the highest run-getter.

Imam racked up 688 runs in eight innings at a staggering average of 98.28 with the help of four centuries and three fifties.

Nonetheless, Imam-ul-Haq joined Multan ahead of their fixture against Dera Murad Jamali and powered them to a 330-1 total at the end of the second day.

The 29-year-old’s knock was laced with 20 fours and two sixes.

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He was vital in Multan’s second day, first stitching a mammoth 190-run opening stand with Zain Abbas, who made 81, before forging an unbeaten 140-run partnership for the second wicket with Imran Rafiq.

For Dera Murad Jamali, Fahad Hussain was the sole wicket-taker on a hard-toil day.

Earlier, Dera Murad Jamali continued from their overnight score of 272-4; however, they mustered only 89 more to the total, losing six wickets. Eventually, they were bowled out for 361 in 111.1 overs.

Nasir Khan was the standout batter for Dera Murad Jamali with 148 off 283 balls, peppered with 11 fours and four maximums.

For Multa, Arafat Minhas picked up four wickets for 46 runs in his 20 overs, whereas Hasan Hafeez and Tahir Hussain supported him well with two wickets each.

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SCARBOROUGH: Imam-ul-Haq struck his fourth century of the tournament, but it was not enough to save Yorkshire from an 18-run defeat against Hampshire in a rain-hit semi-final of the One-Day Cup at the North Marine Road Ground on Sunday.

Batting first, Hampshire piled up 304-6 in their 50 overs, thanks to a breathtaking 142 off 116 balls from Liam Dawson, who struck 13 fours and seven sixes.

Scott Currie provided late fireworks with an unbeaten 61 off just 40 deliveries, while Ali Orr (28), Ben Mayes (37), and others chipped in to keep the scoreboard moving.

Among the Yorkshire bowlers, Matthew Revis was the most successful with 3-73 from his 10 overs, while George Hill and Benjamin Cliff grabbed one wicket apiece.

Rain interruptions forced a revised target of 254 in 41 overs for Yorkshire under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.

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But apart from Imam-ul-Haq, their batting line-up failed to mount a challenge, managing only 235-8.

Imam stood tall with a fluent 105 off 97 deliveries, decorated with 15 boundaries, while the next best contribution came from William Luxton, who scored 30.

For Hampshire, Dawson capped his all-round performance by taking two wickets alongside Currie and Eddie Jack, while Brad Wheal chipped in with one.

Despite Yorkshire’s exit, Imam continues to dominate the tournament charts, leading the run-scoring list with 688 runs in eight innings at an average of 98.28 and a strike rate of 97.45. His tally includes four centuries and three half-centuries.

Hampshire’s victory sets up a final showdown with Worcestershire at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on September 20.

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Pakistan’s opening batters Saim Ayub and Imam-ul-Haq are among the 40 players from the country to have registered for the upcoming South Africa 20 (SA20) auction, set to be held in Johannesburg on September 9, 2025.

The fourth edition of SA20 will commence on December 26 and run until January 25.

The six teams in SA20 have a total purse of USD 7.4 million to spend on 84 available slots.

For Season 4, SA 20 has announced that each team will be allowed to have one Wildcard player—the player can be either a South African player or an overseas player whose salary falls outside the salary cap.

Notably, 784 players have signed up for the September 9 auction across the globe.

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From Pakistan, 40 former and current players have registered for the South Africa Premier T20 competition. The notable names are Azam Khan, Imam-ul-Haq, Abrar Ahmed, and Saim Ayub.

Interestingly, the six SA20 franchises —MI Cape Town, Joburg Super Kings, Durban Super Giants, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Paarl Royals, and Pretoria Capitals—are owned by Indians.

It is noteworthy to mention that, during the previous three editions, no teams had ever included a Pakistani player in their squads.

Meanwhile, 150 players from England have listed their names in the Auction list, which also includes ace international players like Jason Roy and Alex Hales.

The curtain raiser and final of the tournament will be played at NewLands.

In the opening match of the SA20, defending champions MI Cape Town will face off against Durban’s Super Giants, with the final scheduled for January 25.

The Qualifier 1 of the event will be held in Durban on January 21, followed by the Eliminator in Centurion on January 23. The Qualifier 2 will take place on January 24.

For context, Sunrisers Eastern Cape is the most successful team so far, having won the opening two editions of SA 20 and finishing as runners-up in the last edition, falling short against MI Cape Town.

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Pakistan’s opening batter Imam-ul-Haq on Wednesday shared a cryptic post after leading the runs chart for Yorkshire in the ongoing One-Day Cup.

Imam, who was not selected for the Pakistan ODI squad for the West Indies series, has been in a rich vein of form for Yorkshire.

Imam-ul-Haq was signed as the overseas player as a replacement for India’s Ruturaj Gaikwad, who opted out of the Yorkshire initial county fixtures due to personal reasons.

After scoring a match-winning century, Imam took to social media and wrote a cryptic message.

“Chase too hard, and it slips away. Relax, focus, and let it come to you,” he wrote.

The southpaw has so far amassed 331 runs at a magnificent average of 110.33 in three matches.

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With his scores of 55, 159, and 117, Yorkshire have won three out of three matches in Group B and now sit at the top of the table with 12 points.

In his second match of the One-Day Cup, Imam-ul-Haq followed 55 with a mammoth 159 runs knock, eventually powering Yorkshire to a total of 374 runs against Northamptonshire.

With his sublime knock, Yorkshire managed to secure a 202-run victory.

During the third encounter, he was again in good touch and went on to score the second century of the season while chasing a target of 296 runs.

The 29-year-old scored 117 runs off 124 balls, hitting 10 fours and five maximums. With the help of his century, Yorkshire chased down the target in 46.5 overs, losing only three wickets in the process.

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NORTHAMPTON: Imam-ul-Haq career-best score led Yorkshire to a dominant 202-run win over Northamptonshire in the One Day Cup here at the County Cricket Ground on Friday.

The left-handed batter demonstrated a rich vein of form, scoring 159 off 130 balls, peppered with 20 fours and two sixes.

In doing so, Imam-ul-Haq crossed 5000 career List A runs and also surpassed his previous best of 151 against England in 2019.

With his gritty knock, Yorkshire posted a daunting 374 run total for the loss of just five wickets in their allocated 50 overs.

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Imam-ul-haq arrived at the crease when Yorkshire were 8-1 in only 2.1 overs.  The southpaw stitched a vital 83-run stand for the second wicket with William Luxton, which steadied Yorkshire’s innings. As a result, they brought the score to 91 in 16 overs.

The 29-year-old reached his century off 95 balls before shifting gears in a bid to accelerate the scoring rate.

Imam-ul-haq forged two more partnerships, 158 with James Wharton (66) and 75 with a belligerent Matt Revis, to take the score over 300 runs.

He was eventually caught on the last ball of the 44th over, with Yorkshire’s scorecard at 324 runs.

In reply, Northamptonshire crumbled under pressure and were bowled for 172 runs in just 38.5 overs. George Bartlett top-scored with 30 off 24 balls, with the aid of three fours and a six.

For Yorkshire, Dan Moriarty was the standout bowler, picking up four wickets in his ten overs.

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Yorkshire has signed Pakistan opening batter Imam-ul-Haq as an overseas player for the remainder of the county season.

The southpaw is roped in as India’s Ruturaj Gaikwad replacement, who opted out of the season due to personal reasons and will not be available for the remaining five county fixtures. However, Gaikwad will be available for the One-Day Cup.

Imam-ul-Haq will join the squad immediately and is in line to play in Yorkshire’s match against Surrey. The left-handed batter will also be available for the forthcoming One Day Cup and remaining fixtures of the County Championship in September.

Imam-ul-Haq previously played county cricket with Somerset in 2022, where he made three appearances during a brief stint. Across 84 first-class matches, Imam has accumulated 15 centuries, including an unbeaten double hundred, highlighting his calibre in the longer format.

Yorkshire general manager of cricket Gavin Hamilton shared his thoughts following the star batter signing for the rest of the season.

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“We’re delighted that Imam has joined us and that he will be available immediately,” he said.

“Whilst we were naturally disappointed that Ruturaj couldn’t join up with the squad, in Imam, we have an exceptional player of proven international quality,” he added.

Gavin Hamilton praised Imam’s international record, deeming it crucial for Yorkshire’s remaining fixtures.

“Imam has an impressive record and is already familiar with domestic cricket in this country, which will stand us in good stead for a crucial block of fixtures,” Hamilton concluded.

The opener, originally from Lahore, Punjab, has represented Pakistan in 24 Tests, 75 ODIs, and two T20Is.

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India all-rounder Axar Patel has shared the thought process behind his brilliant direct hit that sent Pakistan batter Imam-ul-Haq back to the pavilion during their high-stakes ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash in Dubai on February 23.

The crucial run-out occurred in the 10th over when Imam, looking to rotate the strike after Babar Azam’s dismissal, attempted a quick single against left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

However, Axar was quick to react, gathering the ball swiftly and nailing a direct hit at the non-striker’s end. Imam was caught short, departing for just 10 runs, leaving Pakistan struggling at 47/2 in 9.2 overs.

Reflecting on the moment, Axar Patel revealed that he had visualized the dismissal even before the delivery, anticipating that Imam-ul-Haq might attempt a risky run.

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“The ball before, I was already thinking that he might look for a quick single, and if he did, I could execute a direct hit,” Axar told the ICC.

“I was standing a few steps back but charged in quickly. The movement played out exactly as I expected, and I was able to hit the stumps directly.”

The Indian all-rounder further explained that he had done his homework on Imam’s tendencies, noting that the left-hander often looks for quick singles, especially against spinners.

“When I came on to bowl during the powerplay, he had taken a single through mid-off where Harshit Rana was fielding,” he added.

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“I had seen in videos that he frequently steps out against spinners to sneak quick runs. So, I had this scenario in mind, and when the moment came, I was ready.”

Pakistan’s batting woes continued in the match as they failed to post a challenging total against their arch-rivals. After being bundled out for 241, India chased down the target comfortably with six wickets in hand, thanks to a masterful century by Virat Kohli.

With back-to-back losses against New Zealand and India, Pakistan’s title defense came to an early end as they crashed out of the tournament before the semifinals.

The Green Shirts will now face Bangladesh in their final group-stage match on February 27 in Rawalpindi, but the result will have no bearing on their campaign.

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Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has offered a piece of advice for top-order batter Imam-ul-Haq ahead of the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash against arch-rivals India.

Imam-ul-Haq was called up in the Pakistan squad as a replacement for opener Fakhar Zaman, who was ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025 after he sustained an injury during the match against New Zealand in Karachi on 19 February.

Mohammad Hafeez, during a recent interview, expressed his support for Imam, however, he advised the left-handed batter Imam to improve his strike rate.

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“He is a fantastic player with a strong record in ODIs. The biggest question mark is his strike rate. The missing element in his game is the intent to score quickly as an opener,” Hafeez stated.

“I wish him all the best. Even though he has come in as a replacement, he is a strong character, and I am confident he will seize this opportunity.”

For the unversed, Imam played his last of 72 ODIs against South Africa during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. He has scored 3,138 runs at an impressive average of 48.27, featuring nine centuries and 20 half-centuries.

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Meanwhile, his last international match was the Boxing Day Test against Australia in December 2023 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

It’s worth noting that the defending champions and hosts Pakistan began their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a 60-run loss against New Zealand.

They will now face arch-rivals India in the much-awaited clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23 before returning home to square off against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.

Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

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Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq is set to join the national squad in Dubai on Friday ahead of the much-awaited ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash against arch-rivals India, scheduled on 23 February.

The left-hander, who was called up as a replacement for injured opener Fakhar Zaman, will reach Dubai today after being released by his domestic side, PTV, from the ongoing President’s Trophy.

Fakhar was ruled out of the Champions Trophy 2025 after he sustained an injury, which was later confirmed as an oblique tear, during Pakistan’s group-stage clash against New Zealand in Karachi on 19 February.

The injury occurred in the very first over of New Zealand’s innings when Fakhar fell awkwardly while fielding, forcing him to leave the ground for medical assessment.

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Though he attempted to return to the field after some time, he eventually walked off again, raising serious concerns about his fitness.

Imam-ul-Haq, who recently represented Pakistan Shaheens in the Champions Trophy warm-up match against South Africa, was confirmed on 20 February to replace Fakhar in the squad.

The Southpaw celebrated his call-up in style in style, smashing 158 for PTV against OGDCL on the same day.

“Imam-ul-Haq has been released by PTV and will travel to tomorrow after a brief stay in Lahore,” a source said. “He will be available for selection for the match against India.”

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Imam played his last of 72 ODIs against South Africa during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. He has scored 3,138 runs at an impressive average of 48.27, featuring nine centuries and 20 half-centuries.

Meanwhile, his last international match was the Boxing Day Test against Australia in December 2023 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The defending champions and hosts Pakistan began their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a 60-run loss against New Zealand.

They will now travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23. Pakistan will then return home to face Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.

Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

WATCH: Fakhar Zaman in tears after painful exit following injury