Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has cast doubt on Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq’s calf injury, suggesting that the batter was putting on an act after being ruled out of the second Test against England at Lord’s.
Imam picked up a low-grade strain in his left calf while fielding on the opening day of the Test. The injury occurred soon after he dropped two crucial catches, making it a particularly difficult day for the Pakistan opener.
After receiving treatment from Pakistan’s medical staff, Imam was ruled out for the remainder of the Test the following day, leaving Pakistan with one fewer batter. However, he attracted attention again on Day 4 when he was spotted on the Lord’s sidelines with his injured calf taped. He was seen hitting a ball around and appeared to limp while taking part in batting practice.
Reports from the Pakistan camp suggested that Imam could potentially bat in the second innings if his team desperately needed another batter. However, his visible practice session did not impress Broad.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former England pacer questioned why Imam would train in front of spectators and television cameras if his injury was serious enough to keep him out of the match.
Broad’s remarks were backed by former Australia opener David Warner, who agreed with his assessment.
Broad said he believed the practice session was largely for show, arguing that Imam could have trained indoors away from public attention rather than appearing in shorts with his leg taped while limping around.
The comments have intensified the debate surrounding Imam’s injury, particularly because of the circumstances in which he was withdrawn from the Test.
Imam was officially ruled out after suffering the calf problem while fielding on the first day, forcing Pakistan to continue the match without one of their specialist batters.
The issue resurfaced when he was seen testing the injured leg and practising his batting before play on Day 4. While the sight raised questions about whether he might have been capable of batting if required, Broad mainly criticised the way Imam conducted the practice session rather than directly claiming that he was fit enough to play.
PREVIOUS QUESTIONS OVER IMAM’S INJURY RECORD
Broad’s comments also come after earlier claims by former Pakistan batter and chief selector Mohammad Wasim, who had previously raised questions about injury-related incidents involving Imam.
Wasim recalled an episode from a 2022 home Test in which he claimed Pakistan’s physiotherapist had warned him about a possible injury situation before any official announcement had been made.
According to Wasim, the sequence later unfolded as the physiotherapist had predicted. He also claimed that similar concerns had previously been raised by coaches.
Those comments have resurfaced following the latest questions over Imam’s fitness. However, Pakistan’s team management has not officially suggested that Imam fabricated his current injury.
IMAM’S DIFFICULT RUN CONTINUES
The latest injury has come during a challenging period for Imam with the bat. He managed scores of 42 and 0 in the first Test against England in Leeds, which Pakistan went on to lose.
With Imam unavailable for most of the Lord’s Test, Pakistan have had to adjust their batting resources. His appearance at the nets on Day 4, despite already being ruled out, has only intensified scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding his injury.
