In a disappointing turn of events during the Champions Trophy match against India, Pakistan opener Imam ul-Haq has come under fire for a bewildering run-out that has left cricket experts astonished. The match took place in Dubai amid ongoing tensions between the two nations, with Pakistan’s captain Muhammad Rizwan winning the toss and opting to bat first.
Imam’s partner, Babar Azam, appeared poised for a substantial innings but was dismissed for 23, caught behind, which marked a precarious position for Pakistan at 41 runs for the loss of one wicket after eight overs. Soon after, ul-Haq fell prey to a moment of indecision that would ultimately cost him his wicket as well.
Facing bowler Kuldeep Yadav, ul-Haq struck a drive straight to Axar Patel stationed at mid-off. In a swift and calculated move, Patel threw the ball at the stumps, catching ul-Haq short of the crease. This left ul-Haq with a mere 10 runs off 25 balls, while his team managed to score at a brisk pace of over five runs per over.
Commentator Harsha Bhogle aptly summarised the moment, expressing disbelief at ul-Haq’s decision, exclaiming, “What on earth happened there?” The critiques only intensified, with former Pakistani cricket legend Wasim Akram branding the run as a “suicide run,” stating firmly that it was wholly unnecessary. Ravi Shastri, another commentator, echoed these sentiments, lamenting the wasted wicket and pointing out that there should have never been a run attempted.
This incident marks the sixth instance of ul-Haq being run out since his international debut, a concerning statistic as it positions him as the most frequently run-out player on the current Pakistani team. Interestingly, the record for the most run-outs in the history of Pakistan cricket belongs to his uncle, Inzamam-ul-Haq, who faced this fate 40 times throughout his ODI career.
Ul-Haq’s lapse in judgement has not only drawn attention to his personal performance but has sparked broader discussions about decision-making under pressure within the Pakistani team, especially in high-stakes matches against arch-rivals like India.