Pakistan opening batter Imam-ul-Haq has openly criticized the country’s selectors, accusing them of fostering a culture of inconsistency when it comes to player selection. Imam, who has been part of the national team for seven years, expressed his frustration over the current state of Pakistan cricket, which he described as the worst he has witnessed in his career.
In a recent podcast, Imam discussed Pakistan’s recent struggles, including their shocking loss to the USA in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which he believes has further damaged the team’s reputation. Although Imam was not part of the T20 World Cup squad, he admitted that the situation has worsened since that loss. He pointed out the team’s narrow loss to India, noting how Pakistan failed to capitalize on a winning position, needing just a run-a-ball to secure victory.
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Imam emphasized the importance of winning to restore confidence and stability in the team, acknowledging the ongoing changes in leadership, including the captaincy. “A win is very important for the return of confidence. Although things are changing—captaincy has changed—and I think this happens in every country. You cannot control it. Only a win can save us from all these issues,” Imam said.
One of the main concerns Imam raised was the inconsistency in the selection process. He accused the selectors of showing favoritism, with certain players being given more opportunities than others despite having similar abilities. Imam elaborated on the impact of this unequal treatment, saying, “If you are giving a player 15 matches while another player of similar caliber gets only three matches, then you’re creating problems for yourself. Selection criteria vary from player to player, based on liking or disliking.”
This inconsistency in selection, Imam believes, has led to a lack of confidence among players, with the entire team’s morale suffering. “The confidence of every player is shaken from top to bottom. I don’t think I’ve seen Pakistan play this badly in my seven-year career,” Imam admitted.
Pakistan’s recent cricket record has been a mix of highs and lows. After being eliminated from the 2024 T20 World Cup, the team suffered a historic 2-0 loss to Bangladesh in a home Test series. However, Pakistan bounced back with a 2-1 win in a Test series against England and a historic 2-1 ODI series win in Australia, although they faltered in the subsequent T20I series. Currently, Pakistan is competing in an ODI series in South Africa, having won the opening match.
Imam’s criticism of the selection process highlights the challenges facing Pakistan cricket and the need for more consistency to restore confidence within the team.
