Imam-ul-Haq's Lord's Injury Ignites 'Fake' Allegations from Ex-Selector Wasim
Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq has withdrawn from the Lord's Test with a calf injury, but former chief selector Mohammad Wasim alleges a pattern of fabricated injuries. The controversy engulfs a struggling Pakistan side already 1-0 down against England.
Pakistan's opening batter, Imam-ul-Haq, has been sidelined from the crucial second Test against England at Lord's due to a calf injury, an absence now mired in controversy following explosive allegations from former chief selector Mohammad Wasim.
Wasim has publicly claimed that Imam possesses a history of fabricating injuries to avoid playing, casting a severe shadow over the legitimacy of his current physical setback.
Imam-ul-Haq sustained a low-grade calf strain while fielding on the opening day of the Lord's Test on August 27, 2026. Scans confirmed the injury to his left calf, leading the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to rule him out of the remainder of the match, with Shan Masood and Azan Awais stepping in to open Pakistan's innings on Day 2.
However, the medical confirmation has not quelled the storm. Mohammad Wasim delivered a startling revelation, alleging that Imam-ul-Haq has a discernible pattern of feigning injuries, recalling a specific incident during the 2022 Multan Test.
According to Wasim, a team physiotherapist had preemptively warned him about Imam's impending 'fake injury' during that match, a prediction he claims came to pass, adding a significant layer of scrutiny to Imam-ul-Haq’s current withdrawal.
This controversy unfolds at a dire time for the Pakistan Test squad, who are currently locked in a three-match series against England. England had comprehensively won the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs, asserting early dominance.
At Lord's, Pakistan initially showed improved bowling prowess, dismissing England for 290 in their first innings with Mohammad Abbas claiming 4 for 73 and Mohammad Ali 3 for 86. Yet, Pakistan's batting lineup once again faltered dramatically, collapsing to just 110 all out in their first innings and conceding a substantial 180-run lead.
Key dismissals included captain Babar Azam for eight, as England's pace bowlers, particularly Ollie Robinson (4 wickets for 11 runs) and Jofra Archer (3 wickets for 26 runs), ripped through the order. Imam-ul-Haq's absence further exacerbates Pakistan's batting woes, as he is considered an established opener.
With the team already trailing 1-0 in the series and struggling profoundly with the bat, the loss of an experienced top-order player, coupled with the distracting allegations, heaps immense pressure on the remaining squad members.
As England ended Day 2 with a commanding 261-run lead, Pakistan faces an uphill battle to save the Test match and remain competitive in this high-stakes series.