Imam-ul-Haq for Pakistan (Source: AFP)
Imam-ul-Haq is making his comeback in Test cricket after two long years and has started off on a positive note. He has been in great form in domestic cricket and has continued that at the international level, hitting a patient fifty against World Test Champions, South Africa.
Thus, with Abdullah Shafique struggling at the other end, Imam-ul-Haq has a great chance to cement his place with more such solid knocks in this South African series. However, the bigger question is whether he has the skills to succeed in tough overseas conditions and become a reliable long-term opener for Pakistan.
Imam-ul-Haq's real problem in Test cricket: Home vs away record
If we look at Imam-ul-Haq's Test career so far, his average is touch below 39, but the real problem is the vast difference between his performance at home and away games.
| Criterion | In Pakistan | Away Tests |
| Matches | 8 | 17 |
| Runs | 886 | 754 |
| Average | 68.15 | 26 |
| 100s/50s | 3/5 | 0/5 |
He has been brilliant in Test cricket at home with an average of over 65, and it was the case even when he was dropped from the side. All his three hundreds in Test cricket have come at home, and he has played only eight out of his 25 games in whites in Pakistan.
Thus, his record in his home conditions is quite extraordinary and looking at it, there should be no doubt about his place in the Test side. However, Test cricket demands more from a batter; one needs to adapt to different conditions to be called a proper Test batter, and it is something that Imam-ul-Haq has not been able to do.
In 17 Test matches played away from home, Imam-ul-Haq has scored 754 runs at an average of 26. It is a difference of 42 in average, which shows how poorly he has performed outside Pakistan. Even in the UAE, where conditions are a bit similar to Pakistan, his Test average is just 28.14. Therefore, it is a problem that Imam-ul-Haq needs to find a solution to if he wants to play Test cricket for a long time.
What is wrong with Imam-ul-Haq technique?
Imam-ul-Haq is a good player of spin and tends to use his feet quite beautifully, which has made him quite successful in home Tests and in domestic cricket. However, he struggles against pacers where the ball moves in the air and off the surface.
Over the years, there have been talks about how Imam-ul-Haq gets his front leg far across while trying to drive the ball. It makes him a prime candidate for LBW when the ball swings into him. There is also a tendency to play away from the body, which makes him more vulnerable against pacers.
The positive things in Imam-ul-Haq's game are the patience and hunger he has for big runs. If he finds his groove, he tends to score runs consistently and in the last season of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, he scored his runs at an average of 70.56, which included three centuries.
Conclusion:
Thus, if Imam-ul-Haq can make some minor adjustments to his technique, he can be a batter who can provide solidity for Pakistan in Test cricket across conditions. For now, he is just one of those subcontinent batters who tend to be very consistent at home and struggle in conditions where the pacers take the bigger role.
Pakistan are slated to play in England next year after the series against South Africa, and it will be a real Test for Imam-ul-Haq. That series will determine whether we are seeing a renewed, improved version of Imam or if he is just the same cricketer of his early days in Test cricket.
