KARACHI: Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq believes that Pakistan fans will never accept him for what he is, instead of him hitting the great nephew of former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Left-handed Imam said he had reached the Pakistan team through hard work instead of accusations of nepotism directed at him.
"I don't think it changes unfortunately," Imam said. Cricket player. “People will never accept me. That is what I think. I would be very happy if people accepted me as Imam-ul-Haq and not as someone's nephew, "added the 23-year-old.
Left-handed Imam made his ODI debut for Pakistan in 2017. Since then he has played 36 ODI and has maintained an average of 54.58. However, the Lahore-born hitter has failed to replicate that success in his fledgling test race. In 10 games, he scored only 483 runs with a modest average of 28.41.
Imam insists that he is not on the team due to pressure from Inzamam, who until recently was Pakistan's head of selection.
"People think that he [Inzamam] instructed [head coach] Mickey Arthur to select me, ”he said. "People need to realize that we are living in a time when nothing can be hidden from the media." I will not be on the team without my performance.
"They do not see that I have gone through the process. They only see that I am Inzamam's nephew and they believe they have the right to criticize me. I cry a lot when Pakistan loses. It hurts me if people criticize Babar Azam or Mohammad Amir," he said.
"I know what we all go through to do our best for the team," Imam concluded.
Posted on Dawn, September 29, 2019
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1507872/nepotism-tag-wont-go-away-imam