Aaqib Javed Questions Imam-ul-Haq’s Injury After Lord’s Test

Aaqib Javed has questioned the circumstances around Imam-ul-Haq’s calf injury at Lord’s, saying the Pakistan opener should have tried to bat in both innings and will have to face an inquiry. Speaking to Geo in his capacity as PCB’s director of high performance, Aaqib stopped short of accusing Imam of faking the injury, but made clear he was not satisfied with how it was handled.

Imam ul Haq did not bat in either innings of the second Test against England, which Pakistan lost by 194 runs as England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. PCB had officially confirmed a low-grade left calf strain sustained while Imam was fielding on the opening day.

Aaqib Javed Questions Imam-ul-Haq’s Injury

Aaqib did not hold back in his assessment of the situation. “The Imam injury is a big question mark, and a deep disappointment,” he told Geo.

He drew a comparison to how players handled injuries in the past. “Players in the past used to get injuries, but they used to put on casts and still tried to play,” he said, adding that PCB would “take action against this.”

His central question was about the severity of the injury relative to its impact. “How is it possible that a pulled muscle ruled you out of batting in both innings? He should have tried and fought,” Aaqib said. He was careful, however, to draw a line between demanding more effort and making an accusation. “He’ll have to face an inquiry. I can’t say he faked it, but a muscle pull like that cannot stop you from batting altogether.”

Geo News source

That distinction matters. Aaqib is questioning whether the injury should have prevented Imam from batting at all, not disputing that an injury exists.

What PCB Said About Imam-ul-Haq’s Calf Injury

PCB issued its official update on August 28. According to the board, Imam sustained a strain to his left calf muscle while fielding on the first day of the Lord’s Test. Scans later confirmed it as a low-grade calf strain, and Imam was receiving treatment under the supervision of Pakistan’s medical team, with his participation in the match dependent on his recovery.

That remains the official medical position. Nothing in Aaqib’s comments contradicts the diagnosis itself.

Why Imam Did Not Bat at Lord’s

Imam was unavailable for both innings at Lord’s. Aaqib’s comments do not dispute that the injury occurred. His question is whether a low-grade strain of this nature should have been enough to keep an experienced Test opener out of the side entirely, particularly given Pakistan’s batting struggles across the match.

Whether a low-grade calf strain can or cannot be managed well enough to bat is a medical judgment that sits with the team’s physiotherapists and doctors, not with outside commentary. Aaqib’s remarks reflect his own view on the threshold, not a formal medical reassessment.

Mohammad Wasim Accuses Imam-ul-Haq of Faking Calf Injury at Lord’s

Aaqib Says Imam Could Face an Inquiry

Aaqib’s comment that Imam “will have to face an inquiry” is his own statement rather than confirmation of a formal PCB process already underway. Given his role as PCB’s director of high performance, the remark carries more institutional weight than a typical outside opinion, but it does not by itself constitute an official announcement of disciplinary proceedings.

Whether this develops into a formal review will depend on further communication from PCB.

Airport Ambulance Report Adds Another Layer

A local report from Tanvir Ahmed separately claimed that an ambulance had been arranged at the airport to receive Imam. This has been reported but not independently confirmed by PCB.

Even if accurate, such a claim does not establish anything about Imam’s actual fitness to bat. A player being seen walking without visible difficulty does not, on its own, determine whether they were medically cleared for the specific physical demands of batting in a Test match. That assessment remains a matter for team medical staff.

Imam-ul-Haq’s Test Record

Imam has played 31 Tests, scoring 1,865 runs at an average of 34.53 across 58 innings, with three centuries and 11 fifties. His highest score is 157, and he strikes at 47.77.

Those numbers place him among Pakistan’s more experienced Test-match openers, which is part of why his continued availability matters to the batting lineup heading into the remainder of the series.

What Happens Next for Imam-ul-Haq?

Imam’s fitness will continue to be assessed by Pakistan’s medical team ahead of the third Test at Edgbaston. Whether Aaqib’s comments lead to a formal PCB review remains to be confirmed through official channels. Pakistan’s team management will also need to decide on his availability and role in the squad going forward, separate from any review into how the Lord’s situation was handled.

For now, the injury stands as officially diagnosed, and Aaqib’s comments stand as one senior PCB official’s view that the circumstances deserve closer examination.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to Imam-ul-Haq at Lord’s? He sustained a low-grade left calf strain while fielding on the first day of the second Test and did not bat in either innings.

What did Aaqib Javed say about Imam-ul-Haq? Aaqib, PCB’s director of high performance, said the injury was a “big question mark” and questioned how a pulled muscle prevented Imam from batting in both innings, saying he should have tried to fight through it.

Did Aaqib Javed accuse Imam-ul-Haq of faking his injury? No. Aaqib explicitly said he could not claim Imam faked the injury, while still questioning whether the injury should have ruled him out entirely.

Will Imam-ul-Haq face an official inquiry? Aaqib said Imam would have to face an inquiry, but this has not been confirmed as a formal PCB process separate from his comments.

How many Tests has Imam-ul-Haq played? He has played 31 Tests, scoring 1,865 runs at an average of 34.53, with three centuries.