Stuart Broad accuses Imam-ul-Haq of ‘act’ after Pakistan batsman ruled out at Lord’s

Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq (Reuters) Stuart Broad questioned Imam-ul-Haq’s decision to practice on the sidelines with a calf injury during Pakistan’s second Test against England at Lord’s, accusing the batsman of “showing off”.Imam was ruled out of the rest of the Test after suffering a low strain on his left calf at the start on the opening day. The injury came after he dropped two catches and Pakistan was subsequently sidelined for the rest of the match.The Pakistan opener doesn’t even fire in the second innings as his side slump to another heavy defeat, losing the three-Test series 2-0.

Broad questions Imam’s injury routine

Ahead of the match on Day 4, Imam was seen on the Lord’s touchline tapping the ball with a bandage around his injured calf. He appeared to be swinging as he went through some batting practice.There were suggestions from the Pakistan camp that Imam could potentially bat if his team needed him during the second innings. However, Broad was unfazed by what he saw.Speaking to Sky Sports, the former England fast bowler suggested that Imam’s public warm-up was designed to try to do something rather than prepare him to bat.“That’s all for show. He’s got a little stick from the media and maybe his teammates. Whatever. You can do it inside the indoor school without anyone seeing it, you don’t have to go around in shorts and a belt and hang around like that. I’m not impressed. Sorry,” Broad said.Broad’s remarks added to the questions surrounding Imam’s injury, especially after former Pakistan batsman and chief selector Mohammad Wasim had earlier raised concerns about the opener’s injury.

A former Pakistan selector expressed concern

Wasim had earlier claimed that Imam was faking the injury to avoid playing.Recalling the 2022 incident, Wasim said a Pakistani physio had warned him that the imam’s injury could become a problem even before an official decision was made.According to Wasim, the player has been in similar situations before, coaches were also concerned.The comments have now resurfaced after Imam was sent off at Lord’s, although the Pakistan management claimed he was dealing with a calf strain.

Pakistan suffered another batting collapse

Whatever the circumstances of Imam’s injury, his absence was felt as Pakistan’s batting once again failed to put up a fight.Chasing an impressive 389, Pakistan slipped to 14/3 and were soon staring at another defeat. Saud Shakeel provided some resistance, putting together a 97-run stand for the fourth wicket with Shane Masood before taking on the English attack alongside the tail.Shakeel looked on course for a determined century but was dismissed for 97, falling to a short ball that he repeatedly attacked throughout his innings.His score accounted for more than half of Pakistan’s total as wickets continued to fall at the other end.Ollie Robinson took a crucial four-wicket haul, Josh Tongue cleaned up the tail with three wickets and Jofra Archer claimed two as England completed a comfortable 194-run win after dismissing Pakistan by the same score.Pakistan’s batting struggles have now become one of the defining features of their tour of England, with the visitors losing both Tests and failing to find a consistent response with the bat.Imam made 42 and 0 in the opening Test at Leeds, which Pakistan lost by an innings and 53 runs.