[Watch] Imam-ul-Haq smashes his bat in anger in the dressing room after being dismissed in the Champions Cup against Panthers
Lions batter Imam-ul-Haq cut a livid figure in the dressing room after being dismissed by Shadab Khan against Panthers in the ongoing Champions Cup. The southpaw was motoring along during the run chase in Faisalabad before departing in the 23rd over of the innings.
The Shaheen Afridi-led Lions conceded 283 in the first innings as the Panthers recovered from 51-4 to post a fighting total. In reply, the Lions slumped to 8-2 inside the first two overs, and the onus was on Imam to repair the innings and guide the proceedings.
The left-handed opening batter looked in sublime touch, hitting five fours and two sixes in his 60-run knock off 62 deliveries. However, his stint in the middle came to an end after he was caught by Usman Khan off Shadab Khan's bowling.
Imam-ul-Haq lost his wicket during a crucial juncture and was frustrated after returning to the pavilion. Have a look at the batter's reaction right here:
Imam displayed a similar reaction in anger when he was run out after a mix-up with Babar Azam during an ODI against the West Indies in 2022.
The Lions lost their way in the run chase following the opener's departure and collapsed from 127-3 to 199 all out to record a heavy loss.
Imam-ul-Haq last played for Pakistan in the 2023 Boxing Day Test
Imam-ul-Haq has lost his place in the national setup after not being among the runs. He was dropped midway through the 2023 ODI World Cup after managing just 162 runs in six matches at an average of 27.
He also lost his spot in the Test team following a disappointing tour of Australia after scoring 94 runs in four innings, paving the way for the emerging Saim Ayub. Imam was not selected for the recently concluded Test series against Bangladesh at home.
The opener has made a strong start to the Champions Cup, scoring two consecutive fifties to kickstart the campaign. He is the second-leading run-scorer in the early stages of the domestic List-A tournament with 138 runs at an average of 69.