(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) He may not have got the nod for the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka, but Imam
Haq had already sparked debates in cricket-obsessed Pakistan. Was the 21-year-old player brought to the Pakistan squad because he is the nephew of Inzamam
Haq, one of the greatest batsmen in Pakistan's cricket history and the current chairman of the selection committee? Or did Pakistan actually delay his entry into international cricket?
After all, Imam (848 runs at 49.88 in 11 matches) was the third highest scorer in the last edition of Pakistan's premier domestic tournament, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. He even scored a double century in the final for his team, Habib Bank Limited. But some critics still questioned the logic behind picking Imam for the one-day team since his runs in domestic cricket came in the traditional format of the game.
If there was pressure on Imam in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday night to justify his selection, he did well to hide it by becoming the third youngest player to hit a hundred on ODI debut. Imam's 100 off 125 balls wasn't a flawless innings. He was dropped twice after the Sri Lankans had set Pakistan a modest target of 209.
Once he overcame the early jitters, the bespectacled left-handed opener showed his timing and neat footwork. He may not have been blessed with his uncle's talent to play sublime strokes, but those who saw him bat knew that Pakistan had found a player with considerable talent. Now Imam will be the centre of attention when the fourth game of the five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka begins on Friday at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. It was on this ground that Inzmam, Imam's uncle, hit four of his 10 ODI centuries in his glorious career.
Imam will definitely feel good when he steps onto this iconic ground on the morrow. Another good knock from him will make Sarfraz Ahmed smile as the Pakistan captain will then have the luxury of fielding two left-handed openers - Imam and Fakhar Zaman - of contrasting styles. Now after having clinched the five-match series in Abu Dhabi, thanks to Imam's fine innings and Hasan Ali's stunning five-for, Pakistan will aim to tighten the screws on the hapless Sri Lankans who had just lost their 10th straight one-day match in Abu Dhabi.
On one hand, Pakistan have the freedom to experiment, bringing in new players like Imam who showed the maturity of a veteran in his first match. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, looked bereft of ideas in the middle overs of their own innings. In what was a must-win game for them to remain alive in the series, their batsmen threw away a brilliant start to allow Pakistan to go for their seventh straight win in the 50 overs format. Upul Tharanga's team now have only the pride to play for in the remaining two games in Sharjah. But if they want to avoid their second straight whitewash in ODIs, their batsmen need to raise their game soon.
Sarfraz's well-drilled team are unlikely to be generous to Sri Lanka despite the island nation agreeing to become the first major cricket playing country to play an international game in Pakistan since that 2009 Lahore bus attack.
Squads Pakistan Sarfraz Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, ImamHaq, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Usman Shinwari, Rumman Raees, Junaid Khan, Haris Sohail,Ahmed Shehzad Sri Lanka Upul Tharanga (captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Seekuge Prasanna, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay.
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium Match starts at 2pm UAE Time
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