Imam-ul-Haq speaks about accusation of nepotism despite performances

DERBY: Left-arm Pakistani batsman Imam-ul-Haq spoke about the accusation of nepotism he received despite giving solid performances.

Imam-ul-Haq is the nephew of former Pakistan captain and chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq. Fans often accused him of receiving favours in the game due to his family legacy in the sport.  

Talking to an international cricket website, the left-arm batsman said, “I used to face problems at first because everyone expected me to perform well. Fans always associate me with my uncle (Inzamam) and wanted me to play in the same way as my uncle did.”

Imam-ul-Haq further said that the circumstances change when his uncle was appointed chief selector during the same season he scored 890 runs in first-class cricket.

“You can call it my good luck or his misfortune that I was in the top five run-getters in the very same season of his appointment,” Imam-ul-Haq added. 

The left-arm batsman further said that former batting coach Grant Flower recommended his name to the former head coach and he got a chance to perform for Pakistan in Champions trophy.

He said, “Everyone I knew was happy for my selection but on the other side the media started to target me for nepotism. I wondered why I was being targeted as I had played so well.”

“I did not play for Pakistan and I was being discussed more than those players who were in the team at that time,” the opening batsman added.

He also said that he was on his toes to play well as he knew he would be criticised even more if he failed to perform in a single innings or match.