Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq is reportedly weighing legal action against former PCB chief selector Mohammad Wasim over remarks that questioned the authenticity of his injury. According to reports, Imam has consulted his legal team and could send a defamation notice to Wasim following the comments surrounding his recent injury concerns.
Imam missed both innings of Pakistan’s second Test against England at Lord’s and was later seen stretching on the field, prompting speculation from some quarters that his injury was not genuine. The incident has added to the growing debate around Pakistan cricket, with former batter Rashid Latif also recently questioning the PCB’s alleged “remote control” approach.
Imam-ul-Haq Consults Legal Team Over Mohammad Wasim’s Injury Remarks
Imam-ul-Haq is reportedly considering sending a defamation notice to former Pakistan chief selector Mohammad Wasim over comments questioning the legitimacy of his injury history. According to the Daily Times, the Pakistan opener is exploring his legal options and could send the notice after the ongoing three-match Test series in England. The development comes after Imam missed both innings of Pakistan’s second Test against England at Lord’s, despite being seen doing stretches on the field, which led to speculation from some quarters that his injury may not have been genuine.
The controversy began after Imam was ruled out of the Lord’s Test with a left calf injury sustained while fielding. The Pakistan Cricket Board later confirmed that scans had revealed a low-grade calf strain. During a television programme, however, Wasim raised questions about Imam’s previous injury record and claimed the batter had used injuries to avoid difficult situations in the past. He specifically referred to Pakistan’s 2022 Test against England in Multan, alleging that a team physiotherapist had already warned him before the match that Imam could report an injury.
Wasim’s comments have not been established as facts and remain allegations at this stage. Nevertheless, Imam has reportedly started discussing the matter with his legal team and is considering whether to pursue a defamation case. If he does go ahead, the dispute could become one of the biggest off-field controversies in Pakistan cricket, particularly at a time when the national team is already dealing with significant pressure both on and off the field.
PCB Inquiry Into Imam-ul-Haq Injury Adds to Growing Pakistan Selection Crisis
The PCB has also hinted that it could investigate the circumstances surrounding Imam’s absence from the Lord’s Test. The inquiry could bring further scrutiny over the nature of his latest injury and the events that led to him missing the important Test. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s selection process is facing its own problems, with senior selector Aaqib Javed reportedly at risk of losing his position as part of PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s wider clean-up plan.
Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has also resigned from his position as a selector, although it remains unclear whether the PCB has formally accepted his resignation. His decision came after the board issued a show-cause notice to the selection committee and sought explanations over the selection of Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan for Pakistan’s Test squads for the West Indies and England tours. Members of the selection and advisory committees were also asked to explain why the two players were picked and what criteria were used to formulate the team’s selection policy, adding to the growing scrutiny surrounding Pakistan cricket’s selection system.
