ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s bruising tour of England has taken a fresh twist, with a senior selector openly questioning Imam-ul-Haq’s injury and demanding an inquiry into how the opener was handled during the heavy defeat at Lord’s.
Aaqib Javed, a member of the four-man national selection panel, has cast doubt on the severity of Imam’s calf problem after the left-hander failed to bat in either innings of Pakistan’s 194-run loss in the second Test.
“Inquiry to be launched”
Speaking on Geo TV in an interview aired Tuesday night, Aaqib did not bother with soft edges.
“An inquiry will be conducted into this matter,” he said, making it clear this would not simply be brushed aside.
His real sting came when he questioned how an international opener could miss both innings after pulling up in the field.
“How is it possible that you failed to come out to bat in both innings after pulling up a muscle?” Aaqib said. “Injuries do occur and we have seen instances in the past where players — even with casts — have gone out and made an effort. This situation is different. It is a matter of great concern, and action will be taken regarding it.”
Imam injured his left calf on the first day at Lord’s and took no further part in the match. The sight of Pakistan’s top-order man absent as England cruised to a commanding victory only heightened scrutiny back home.
The pressure grew when former chief selector Mohammad Wasim also voiced concern in the local media. Under that glare, Imam appeared on the outfield before play on the fourth day, limping as he shadow-batted with his left calf heavily strapped. The optics raised more questions than answers: if he could move, why had he not padded up when Pakistan were collapsing?
Tour in turmoil
The Imam saga is only one strand of a tour unravelling at pace.
After back-to-back defeats at Headingley and Lord’s, the Pakistan Cricket Board recalled seven players from England, along with bowling coach Umar Gul and head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed. The clear-out underlined just how rattled the PCB has become by the scale and manner of the losses.
White-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke have now been handed the reins for the final Test in Birmingham, starting September 9. It is an unusual mid-series reshuffle and a stark signal that patience has snapped.
Selectors have doubled down on change. Five uncapped players are in the squad, joined by openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who between them have only 10 Tests of experience. Pakistan are not just tweaking; they are ripping up the script.
Selection rift exposed
Behind the scenes, the tension has been simmering for weeks. Reports of serious differences between the touring team management and Aaqib over the Lord’s XI have now spilled into the open.
Aaqib wanted a very different balance for that second Test. He pushed for a fast-bowling allrounder, the inclusion of pace bowler Ubaid Shah, and a change behind the stumps — wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori in place of Mohammad Rizwan.
The tour management, led by Sarfaraz and captain Babar Azam, went another way. They only dropped Salman Ali Agha, who had captained in Babar’s absence in the first Test, and stuck with Rizwan.
“We can’t just keep waiting,” Aaqib said. “I had actually spoken to both the captain and the coach after the first test, suggesting they include Ubaid, who bowls at 140 kph. Agha was rightly rested, Ghazi Ghori was available on the tour and should have played instead of Rizwan.”
Those words cut straight to the heart of the rift: who truly controls selection once the squad boards the plane?
As Pakistan limp towards the final Test at Birmingham with a reshaped staff, a shaken dressing room and an opener under investigation over his fitness, the question is no longer just about form or tactics. It is about authority, accountability, and how quickly a proud Test side can pull itself together before this tour leaves a deeper scar.
